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Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
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Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
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Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
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Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this ebook

Readers will delight in New York Times bestseller Sarah MacLean’s debut novel—featuring her sexy, funny, emotionally rich writing and one of the fiercely feminist heroines that made Entertainment Weekly crown her “the utterly intoxicating queen of historical romance.”

There are things a lady simply does not do. She does not smoke. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never, ever sneaks into a men’s club for a night of gambling and…other excitements.

Calpurnia Hartwell has spent a lifetime following the rules and, as a reward, she’s been forgotten at the edges of society, unnoticed…and unsatisfied. So, what’s a girl to do, but break the rules and get a taste of the life she’s been missing?

Once Callie throws herself into a bold new world, she fast realizes a taste won’t ever be enough. She’s going to need a partner—someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, Marquess of Ralston—charming and handsome, with a scandalous reputation matched only by his wicked smile.

But the further Callie ventures into this new world, the further she gets from her family’s expectations and all she once held dear. Will she be brave enough to leave her old life behind? Because she’s about to break the most important rule of all—the one that says pleasure-seekers should never fall in love. . .

LanguageEnglish
PublisherHarperCollins
Release dateMar 30, 2010
ISBN9780061987946
Author

Sarah MacLean

A life-long romance reader, Sarah MacLean wrote her first romance novel on a dare, and never looked back. She is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of romances translated into more than twenty languages, a romance columnist, and the co-host of the weekly romance novel podcast, Fated Mates. A graduate of Smith College and Harvard University, she lives in New York City.

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Reviews for Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

Rating: 4.04702980990099 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was a great story and I really enjoyed it. Lady Calpurnia has been a wallflower thru 10 seasons and at the age of 28 after a chance remark by her brother she decided to change her ways and take what she wants. She makes a list of her goals and sets out to cross them off one by one sometimes with unexpected consequences. Can she find what she has been looking for?
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Funny and enjoyable.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the first book I've read by this author, and I've already read a second and purchased a third! Even though the title is a real mouthful, the story is a whole lot of fun. The characters are believeable and realistic--and I especially enjoy reading books where the heroines aren't skinny twigs--and of course, who doesn't like reading the story of a rake reformed by love? Sarah MacLean writes with a dry humor that had me laughing out loud. This book is a sure bet for anyone who enjoys historical romances. The second in the series, Ten Ways to be Adored While Landing a Lord, is equally anjoyable, and I'm counting the days until her third, Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart, comes out. I'm very glad I found this author!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Fun romance in the grand tradition but with a strong female lead that is much more than a victim of circumstance. Great beach read!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really expected not to like this novel. I found the idea of the list almost cringe-inducingly silly - I imagined rolling my eyes every time prim-and-proper Callie decided it was time to smoke a cigar or visit a pub. But I read enough good reviews that I decided to give the book a try, and it turned out to be fantastic. Callie's rule breaking is about coming to terms with her own spinsterhood, about understanding why she has to feel guilty for being on the shelf when a man of her age would just be a happy bachelor. She's really more interested in being free to accept herself, free to live her life, than she is in making some sort of rebellious statement. She's not a rebel at all, which is why her list ends up being so fascinating.

    Gabriel, for his part, is perfectly dreamy and the tension between them is fantastic. She's so in love with him, and so deeply convinced that he could never reciprocate the emotion. It's another play on the idea of preconceived notions, which is so much a part of her list. And Gabriel falls into the same trap. He's head over heels in love with her before he realizes it, and has a hard time accepting the idea that he - handsome, desirable to many - wants Callie more than anyone else.

    Heartfelt, lots of emotion, tugged on my heartstrings in just the right way. Huge fan of this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I did a quick re-read before writing my review and enjoyed it just as much the second time.

    This was such a cute book. I really liked both Callie and Ralston. The book was sweet and light with just the right touches of humor and levity. I zipped right through it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Oh, but I loved this book! One of my fave reads of the year thus far. See, I picked this up because I had read a couple of reviews on it and they were saying how gloriously wonderful it was and yada yada yada. So, I picked it up because I figured it couldn't be that great - but YES, it was that great.This book has everything that I love in a Regency romance. The heroine is not your average damsel in distress. Oh no, Callie is on-the-shelf, and doomed to a life of spinsterhood. Thus the list is born... to smoke a cheroot, drink scotch, ride astride, fence, attend a duel, fire a pistol, to gamble at a gentleman's club, dance every dance at a ball, be considered beautiful (just once), to kiss someone passionately. And she sets right off and does exactly that... well, kiss someone passionately that is (that someone being Gabriel, the Marquess of Ralston, known as a notorious rake and the man who Callie has crushed on for the past decade) and thus our journey begins. What really made this book stand out for me from the rest:The fact that Callie is plain and plump really made her appealing to me. I liked the fact that she wasn't a stunning beauty with a willowy frame. The fact that Gabriel loved her with no prejudice as to her curves and looks really worked for me. As for Gabriel, I thought it refreshing that he wasn't a man running from commitment or love, but instead he had issues with relationships because of his parents' disastrous marriage. All the supporting characters were loads of fun as well - especially the siblings. There were brilliant laugh-out-loud moments, the witty banter and teasing between Gabriel and Callie will leave you smiling, and the tension/romance was just perfect. Oh, and I forgot to mention the hot and heavy scenes were well just that... hot and heavy. Very sexy (something that I rarely find in historicals)... I'm just saying. ;)Overall, this was a tremendously enjoyable read and one that I highly recommend to lovers of romance (no matter what your favorite sub-genre is) this will appeal to everyone.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The charm and humor of Julia Quinn, with the sex scenes of a Stephanie Laurens. Entertaining, fun, and steamy.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I picked Nine Rules to Break up on a whim due to a conversation I had with some other bloggers on Twitter. I am so glad I did! I've been reading a lot of sci-fi and young adult books lately. A nice dose of adult romance was a fun break from all that. Historical romance is genre I really enjoy and don't read often enough. This is definitely one of my favorites that I've read of the genre so far. Normally I always recommend Lisa Kleypas' Wallflower series for someone looking for romance. I'll definitely be recommending this one too from now on. It was so much fun! Hysterical in parts, and also poignant at times. Callie Hartwell is a very fun and relatable heroine. I really enjoyed her thoughts and personality. Her jump into being more daring was a bit sudden, but that just made it more fun to read. I loved the chemistry between her and Ralston, because sometimes their interactions were more silly then romantic, and that made their chemistry so much more realistic feeling. This is not an original plotline. In fact, it is a lot like Kleypas' Wallflower series, so it must just be a plot I generally enjoy. The heroine that has always been overlooked deciding to throw convention out the window and do what she good-and-well-feels-like-doing-thank-you-very-much. So if you enjoy that storyline with a large dose of romance and constant laughing...pick this up, because you will love it!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I loved this story. I was laughing and rooting for our heroine Lady Calpurnia. This is my first book by Sarah MacLean and I think I have found another great romance author.Lady Calpurnia is a young lady in London whose season has passed and has never married or been in a serious relationship. Her brother tells her to create a list of things she would like to do but he doesn't expect her to actually go through with doing the things listed. Some of the items are things we wouldn't think twice about doing. Entering a men's pub. Drinking Whiskey etc. Lady Calpurnia has a younger sister who is engaged to a Duke and this is what starts her thinking about her life. The man of her dreams Gabriel St. John is a notorious rake and she remembers the first time she met him. I know I will be looking into more books by Sarah MacLean.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Based on the title, I was anticipating a story not unlike Julia Quinns "10 things...." which was very funny and lighthearted. I was a bit disappointed. Though it was entertaining, there were a lot of cliche moments. I have read a lot of books from this genre and I felt like this book was not very original.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This was the first time I have read this author. It was a 5 star book up until about a 1/4 left. Then I found the heroine really needy and annoying. So I didn't really want to finish that part. (hence the loss of star). But up until then I loved Callie and Gabriel! It was a fun book that I couldn't put down. I will try more from this author!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Nine Rules to Break when Romancing a Rake
    4.5 Stars

    This book has all the familiar tropes of historical romance: A plump and plain heroine, a gorgeous yet tortured hero, the inevitable misunderstanding and declarations of undying love. Nevertheless, MacLean manages to bring it all together in this delightful read with its original premise, witty dialogue, sizzling scenes, and engaging characters.

    Callie Hartwell is tired of being considered a passive wallflower and decides to defy convention by breaking the nine rules necessary for maintaining a pristine reputation starting with propositioning the most notorious rake in London, Gabriel St. John, Marquess of Ralston.

    Callie and Gabriel have amazing chemistry and their interactions more than make up for the predictable plot line. Callie is a feisty heroine determined to live life to the fullest in a time when women were little more than accessories and Gabriel is an earthy rogue convinced that love is for the weak. When these two come together, sparks fly and laughter abounds.

    Highly recommended as a light, sexy, funny and relatively angst free read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I absolutely LOVE this book!!! It was a great adventure and fun romance story! I would recommend it to everyone!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5


    Lady Calpurnia is a lonely spinster who has harbored a crush for the gorgeous Marquess of Ralston since the time she was an 18 year old wallflower. As the novel opens, Calpurnia's family is celebrating the marriage of her younger sister and she becomes unbearably aware of the fact that her own opportunity for love and life has passed her by, leaving her to a life of spinsterhood and loneliness. Impulsively, she decides to take life by the horns and creates a list of the things she would want to do if she doesn't have to worry about society's restrictions and rules. And so, MacLean does a fantastic job of setting up the action of the story.

    The first 100 pages or so are absolutely charming. Needless to say, Calpurnia's plan brings the Marquess into the mix with delicious results. There are many things which are quite enjoyable about the book. I like that MacLean creates a character who is lonely and truly vulnerable emotionally, a character who has a lot of personal development that needs to take place. I really enjoyed the dialogue because I thought it was well done and not too much. I loved the family dynamic, especially the amazing, supportive Benedick (the overbearing older brother is so overdone) and the loyal Anne (I could have done without the irritating Mariana.) I think the author did a great job of fleshing out the character of Calpurnia, who I found sweet and adorable.

    There were some things in the novel, however, that I most definitely did NOT like. The novel tended to drag for me a little bit toward the end and I thought it could have been 50 pages shorter. I thought the Marquess was kind of an ass, honestly, and he doesn't seem that bright. Their verbal interactions were interesting because of Calpurnia's insights and passion, not because of his. He was hot, though, I'll give him that. I thought the whole "evil mother" premise sort of weak, and in my mind it didn't excuse his poor behavior. Furthermore, I felt like the pacing of the conflict was inconsistent. Calpurnia and Ralston would get into an argument, for instance, and both would flounce off, and the next time they meet, they start going at it, seemingly forgetting their previous fight. It got kind of old toward the end...

    A last word: I thought it kind of cool that the author chose not to frame Ralston's mistress into evil Satan, just because she's hotter than the heroine and happened to be with him before her. I think it may be interesting if MacLean chose to write a book featuring Nastasia's story. And let's not forget adorable Benedick...
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I skimmed a lot--most of the last 40% of the book. I kept thinking the h/h had lost their sense entirely. He wants her to bring his sister out because of her sterling reputation, and then proceeds to compromise her in public places every time they meet.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I thought I already reviewed this a while back, but apparently not. Anyhoo, what an AWESOMELY WICKED foray into the romance genre! Hats off - just the hats, mind you - to Sarah MacLean for keeping the bubbly fun from her YA debut The Season and cranking up the heat to scorching hot! A must-read for anyone who enjoys historical romance full of romp, pomp, and chompful of humor!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Not bad, sort of fizzles out towards the end. Seems to be a problem with this genre, the writer loses steam halfway through and starts repeating themselves.

    That said, the heroine is a breath of fresh air. Over the age of 22, plump, and assertive. She tries various male pursuits. And the writer through her heroine questions the gender roles a bit, but not enough to be truly interesting. In the end, it's a reassertion of the status quo and traditional roles.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Last year I kept hearing about this wonderful debut author named Sarah MacLean and her book The Season (my review). Which was about three teenage friends trying to survive in Regency England. I just had to run out and get it and instantly fell in love with Sarah MacLean's writing. Then when I heard the premise for her next book, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, I was giddy with anticipation. Lady Calpurnia Hartwell is your typical women living in Regency England. She follows the strict rules of society and tries to convince herself she's content even though she is considered to be 'on the shelf.' But when her younger sister becomes engaged and makes some comments that Callie inadvertently overhears, Callie realizes that she's tired of being the woman that society expects her to be. So she decides to make a list of nine things that she'd like to do.The list ranges from things like 'learning to fence' and 'wanting to gamble '(in a gentleman's club no less) to the almost heartbreaking of 'to be considered beautiful.' Along the way Callie meets Gabriel St. John, the Marquis of Ralston who becomes her partner in crime as Callie dives into her list with both feet. Their encounters are both humorous and at times very very steamy. I swear I think that MacLean made me blush at least once....maybe more. Nine Rules to Break is more than just your typical romance novel though its a journey of self discovery and about accepting one's self for who they are. I loved watching Callie come out of her shell and learn that she could be happy even if she doesn't fit into the mold that society says she fit in.While I did enjoy this book it wasn't perfect and does fall into some of the common pitfalls of a romance novel. Most notably was the head jumping. The book starts off alternating between Ralston and Callie and at first this is structured. But its not long before the POV would change based on what is convenient to move the scene along. So there are moments when the story will be told for a paragraph or two by Ralston or another character and then return to Callie. There was also that one scene that took up 1/2 a chapter from the POV of Ralston's sister Juliana - a scene that just seemed so randomly dropped into the story. It did nothing to move Ralston's & Callie's story along and I for one found it very distracting.I also thought that the word "shan't" was used a bit too much. Yes this might be a bit nitpicky of me and I understand that its not easy to try to write a story in a time when many of the words and phrases that we take for granted in this modern world just didn't exist back then. So while I did get annoyed with the over use of that one word I do have to admire Sarah MacLean's ability to write in the Rengency time period. Just from reading her blog I know that it wasn't an easy feat to do. I mean who knew the word neckline didn't really come into being until the 1920's? I know I didn't.Overall though I did enjoy reading Nine Rules to Break While Romancing a Rake. I found all the characters to be believable and loved Callie and Ralston's romance. Did I mention that their story is steamy? If not, then trust me....this is a book that can make even the regular romance reader blush. The dialogue was witty and fun and I loved Callie's brother. I hope that he gets his own story at some point. One that will hopefully include more of his and Callie's mother who I think was underused in Nine Rules. She was a secondary character that I think could have added some really humorous scenes to the novel. But she's also one who could potentially be a big distraction so I can understand why she was kept on the sidelines.The next story in this series will feature Ralston's twin brother, Nick and will be called Ten Ways to Be Adored When Romancing a Lord. Doesn't that just sound like fun? I know that I cannot wait to read this one and learn more about Nick and that mysterious scar of his. There is no official release date for Ten Ways as of yet but I believe its expected in stores sometime in the winter of 2010. You can bet that I will be stalking Sarah MacLean on her blog and twitter until the announcement is made. Until then....I think I might just have to go and re-read Nine Rules again. Nine Rules to Break While Romancing a Rake will be available in stores on Tuesday so mark your calendars and be sure to check it out the next time you find yourself in the bookstore.As originally posted on my blog Ticket to Anywhere
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Started out really good, then the heroine started doing and saying stupid, immature things and the book lost me. That was not the heroine’s character as first presented. She regressed into a state where I lost sympathy with her.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Lady Calpurnia Hartwell is tired of being good, it hasn't got her anywhere and now she's approaching the shelf at speed and she feels like she hasn't really lived. She makes a list of what she wants to do, would like to do in her life and she decides to go about doing them. She enlists the help of Gabriel St.John, the Marquess of Ralston to help and he discovers that he's more interested in her than he thought.Fun romp with a character trying out some things that stretch her and the limits society put on her.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    So fun! It's naughty, clever and slightly more believable than some other contrived historical romance plots. Lady Calpurnia isn't an eye-catching deb her first season and easily and quickly gets relegated to wallflower status. Her one moment of excitement it would seem was being flirted with by Ralston, a hot, naughty Marquess (but then, aren't they all?) which she too soon discovers was really some gamesmanship on his part to get rid of her so he could get to his assignation in the garden with some other wanton lady :) Much time passes and her little sister is out, engaged and reminding Callie of all she's missing out on. She decides one night to write up a list of things she would do--if she could. Things that she's prevented from doing either by her status in society or because she's a woman. She wants to drink scotch, smoke, gamble, fence and have her first kiss. She takes leave of her senses and goes out in the middle of the night to kiss Ralston.

    Ralston has recently discovered his loose moralled mother had a daughter who needs looking after and proper entrance into society. He gives Callie her kiss and ends up somewhat unwittingly and unwillingly being her partner in crime to finish Callie's scandalous list.

    Such an entertaining ride. And hot, did I mention hot? Yet another fantastic book from Sarah MacLean. If you're into historical romance, you must read this one. Soon. Now. Next.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Lady Calpurnia Hartwell is a 28 year old spinster. She has accepted this role and is quite comfortable in it, or at least she was until one day she overhears her little sister talking about her and saying that she is passive, that she will make a great aunt but she would have made a great mother too. This is a wakeup call for her, she was always passionate and was hoping to find the love of her life, but time went by and nothing. Now she finds herself feeling old, plump and average, and she decides to change that. But she doesn’t get a makeover, nope, she writes a list of the outrageous unladylike things she wants to do. Among those things we have drinking scotch, riding astride and getting her first kiss. Since the kiss is number one on the list she decides to do it with the guy she has secretly admire for the past ten years, Gabriel St. John, Marquis of Ralston, who happens to be a very famous rake.I admit that some time ago I suffered from historical romance overdose, especially regency novels. I think I read so many that I just couldn’t stand them anymore. And by that time I had discovered contemporary romance which marked my official breakup with the 19th century. But of course there will always be some remaining feelings. Besides, my relationship with historical romance was a very passionate one. So when the third book in this series started to make a lot of noise in the reviewing community I was very curious. Since I hate reading series out of order I decided to give this one a try first and see how it went. Boy was I in for a ride! Let me tell you, if I keep finding regency novels as good as this one, I might ask the genre to take me back.This book had a very old and tried premise, the ugly duckling. And everything that happens is very unoriginal and actually predictive. You have the ugly plump spinster who longs for a happily ever after, the unapologetic rake who has some unresolved mommy issues, there is the evil vixen lover, the funny best friend sidekick, there is even a makeover. It has all of that but not really, all this clichés are presented in a way that makes them fresh, the evil vixen is not really evil, the makeover doesn’t really makes her look much better and by the time it happens our hero has seen past the appearances. The heroine takes charge of things, the hero is instantly charmed by the heroine but their relationship grows slowly. It was refreshing to say the least and by the end of the book I could understand why everyone was charmed by this author. The leads were both very likeable. The heroine steals the show, but I think that Gabriel was the perfect match for her. I loved her damned the torpedoes attitude, and I loved that he was both charmed and scandalized by her actions. The secondary characters were also good. Callie’s little sister, Gabriel’s twin brother Nick. Then there is Juliana, she is Nick and Gabriel’s Italian half-sister, she was just a joy to read.The only thing that bothered me was the final big misunderstanding, it didn’t last long but I think that since the book had such an interesting take on a very old plot, it could have done without the very old plot devise. Of course you see it coming, but I was hoping that they will deal with it in a different way, maybe just communicating and being honest with each other.The other thing that I noticed after reading the second book was that the sex scenes were basically the same ones, is like Sarah used the exact same mold for each book. The last book fortunately is different, but I suppose that is because is the heroine doing the corrupting of the hero and not the other way around.Overall the book was wonderful, if you like your historicals a bit lighthearted, without much drama and very hot, this book will be perfect for you. I liked it very much, and as you might tell after reading my review, once I finished it, I went and bough the other two books. I not only recommend this book, but the other two as well. You won’t regret it. This is a case of well-deserved reputation.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Mini Good Review: It's been a long time since I read from this genre, which used to be the only genre I read, and it was the perfect story to hook me back in. Calpurnia is a delightfully charming heroine and the love interest, Gabriel, is an imperfect but delicious rake that is perfect for her. This is a fabulous story to lose yourself in while sitting at the beach or snuggled up on the couch with a glass of wine. I understand Calpurnia, a quiet girl who does what she is expected to do but yearns to be wild and free. She wants someone to see and love her for what she is. I think most bookworms like me feel exactly like Calpurnia. Story is fast paced if a tad predictable and the dialogue is delightful. Good steamy sex scenes, that are wonderfully done (take note certain authors that use terms like love missle) and some cry your eyes moments and even better laugh your ass off scenes. Some interesting secondary characters that I would like to learn more about, and judging by this being listed as, Love By Numbers 1, I am sure I will be soon. Look forward to reading more by Sarah. My only beef with this one is the cover. Um hello that chick on the front is the total opposite of Calpurnia. I hate when they put some pretty little thing on the cover instead of the realistic looking character described in the book.3.5 Dewey'sI picked up copy of this at Book Expo America 2013 - well because I am a sucker for anything with Rake in the title
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Read for Vaginal Fantasy Hangout book club, this was the alt pick. This was what a "trashy romance novel" should be. It was a fun read full of colorful characters that I came to know and care about quickly. The heroine made tons of bad decisions that made me want to yell at her out loud, and the steamy parts were actually steamy. The hero and heroine was believable enough that you could see them caring for each other, despite the situations they were in. All in all, a good read.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I'm sorry, but this is rubbish! Modern characters transposed to the nineteenth century by replacing 'will' by 'shall' is just really annoying. Its a shame, because the basic plot is quite fun, but there has been no research (other than, I guess, reading equally poor 'regency' romances) and the quality of the writing is not good either.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Lady Calpurnia Hartwell feels a bit ridiculous. A self-proclaimed, plain Jane, with a rather silly name, and more figure and curves than are fashionable, she even looks ridiculous in the horror of a dress her mother insisted she wear to her debut ball. Adding to the ridicule of being plain and looking horrid, Callie hasn't danced with one eligible or desirable man all evening and has been reduced to a wallflower at her own coming out ball. Feeling rather sorry for herself, and loathing all the rules of society that claim a well-born lady must make nice with everyone, even undesirable oaths, she escapes to the garden where she can feel sorry for herself and dwell on the shame of being such a disaster at her own ball. Ladies are not suppose to hide unattended in the garden, at night, and they aren't suppose to engage in conversation and flirtation with a well known rake, like the Marquess of Ralston even if he is devastatingly handsome. He's kind are not intended for girls like Callie.Ten years later, Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has been relegated to permanent spinster with no hopes of a match and she hasn't danced at a ball in years. With her lace cap, and still ridiculous dresses chosen by her mother, she seems much older than she is. Sitting on the side lines with the other unfortunates of her class, she watches as life and love happens around her. When her younger sister lands not only a duke, but a duke that loves her, Callie can't help but feel that her last ten years have been wasted and she longs for a love of her own- and an adventure. Problem is, for the last ten years her fantasy hero has had only one face, that of the irreputable Marquess of Ralston. She decides then and there that she is quite fed up with her role in life and pens a scandalous list of nine, forbidden adventures she would like to have and she's going to accomplish at least one of them tonight- "Kiss someone- passionately."It's ok to stop at this point and squeal. I am. I'm also sleep deprived because I read this book in one sitting because it's impossible to put down. This story is so much fun! Callie is such a refreshing character, an ahem, older heroine in search of adventure and freedom from her everyday life and the unspoken rules and regulations of a society that has kept her trapped, even from herself, for ten years. By day she is the picture of decorum and manners as she councils a young lady about to enter society and by night she is daring and rash, shocking even herself as she breaks every rule she's ever adhered to. She engages the Marquess as her partner in crime and the ill reputed playboy quickly has to take on the roll of protector as this well-born lady goes down her list, astounding even the Marquess.I just adore Callie and envy her lack of restraint, especially in a time when a lady was only ever allowed to be a lady. Her adventures may not be shocking by our standards but for 1823 England her actions were unheard of and her single-minded determination is admirable in any age.MacLean has made an instant fan. Her writing is clean and precise making for a seamless story that tells without so much as a hiccup from start to finish. There's nothing silly about her characters, they are well defined and immediately lovable- even our bad boy, and her love story never comes across as sappy. Be advised that the Ralston's dialogue is best read with a fan handy.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Nice, but nothing special. The male lead was supposed to be a rake, but I couldn't find much evidence of that. I would like to read another book by this author, though.

    Grade: B-/C
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake, is a fun break from the strictures of reality. Of course these two strike a bargain of mutual satisfaction, and fall in love along the way and in spite of themselves. Calpurnia helps Gabriel launch his sister and he helps her safely negotiate some of the more challenging items on her list – gambling, smoking cheroots, drinking scotch in public, and kissing passionately – to name just a few. Calpurnia and Gabriel are engaging characters who suffer a couple of bumps along the way to happily ever after, but I enjoyed their journey, and that of the charming supporting characters- Calpurnia’s sister and Gabriel’s brother and sister, to be specific.

    MacLean is a talented writer and I loved the well rounded people and carefully considered story line. Plus, Calpurnia is a reader! So she talks about books. We like this, yes? This is wonderful escapist fare that I devoured over the course of a day. Recommended.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Spinster-in-the-making Lady Calpurnia "Callie" Hartwell has had it up to here with being the good, demure lady. She has no romantic prospects, and so decides to follow through on her desires to engage in unladylike activities--such as fencing, smoking, and drinking--that she has always wanted to do. In doing so, she inadvertently enlists the "help"--and captures the attention--of Gabriel St. John, Marquess of Ralston, the infamous rake with whom she's been in love with for years.Pure escapist smut, of course, but I don't think I've ever had so much fun reading a historical romance before. I haven't read enough HRs to notice tropes or whatnot (okay, that's so not true--there's always the whole rake + innocent virgin = reform and true love thing, but still), but I enjoyed the heck out of Callie and Ralston's interactions. Callie struggles relatably against her society's stifling rules. She is part modern woman, part enticingly vulnerable FEMALE.In comparison, Ralston feels a little underdeveloped. I wanted to see more of how he comes to fall for her. We get quite a bit of internal monologue from Callie's POV; why can't Ralston have some of the same himself? Despite that, I thought the plot flowed, the "sex scenes" deliciously but not tastelessly so. Ralston and Callie have an incredible chemistry, and Sarah MacLean is an impressive historical romance writer, as I am happy to say after feeling lukewarm towards her YA historical debut, The Season. I am definitely checking out more of Sarah's future HR books!