Will Ransleigh never loses a bet, and that is his motivation when he decides to go looking for the woman who ruined his cousin Max's career. Max was double- crossed by a French woman in Vienna, Elodie Lefevre, who had been a hostess to the crème de la crème of Society on behalf of a duplicitous relative. Wagering Will comes from the wrong side of the blanket; before being taken in by his uncle the Earl of Swynford, he spent the early years of his life on the London streets. Max helped him before, so Will surmises it's time to return the favour: Will should blend in more easily as he searches for the elusive Elodie. However, when Will finally comes face to face with the Frenchwoman, she is not at all what he expected her to be. THE RAKE TO REDEEM HER is the second book in the Ransleigh Rogues series, and while the story arc that began in the first book continues, it can be read as a standalone because Ms. Justiss establishes the basis for this instalment and fills in all the necessary blanks. One of the things I love the most about THE RAKE TO REDEEM HER is that the story is solidly based on historical facts, and it's obvious that Ms. Justiss meticulous researched the War of 1812.

Elodie is a splendid character: she is courageous, resourceful but stoic; she doesn't have much to lose except for Philippe. Will is a much more emotionally complex male character than we are used to see in Regency romances, and he's willing to listen. As they get to know each other, Will comes to admire Elodie, most of all her spirit and her cleverness. They have much more in common than they ever imagined, especially when family matters are concerned. Elodie is overcome by Will's compassion and understanding, even towards someone he thought of as the enemy, such as herself. They make a fine team as they travel to Paris en route to London; I love their complicity and their sense of fun as they don disguises. And even though mutual trust eludes them, they succumb to the lust they haven't been able to deny. THE RAKE TO REDEEM HER is a fun and entertaining read, albeit not without very serious and insightful moments, and there are some surprising and heartbreaking plot twists that make it a most compelling story. THE RAKE TO REDEEM HER is a spy story full of action, deliciously sensual, and gorgeously written with some delicious period details. Another splendid read by Julia Justiss!

Book Summary

Will Ransleigh, illegitimate nephew of the Earl of Swynford, has the tall, aristocratic bearing of nobility–and the resourceful cunning of a streetwise rogue. To clear his cousin's name he is on a mission that will take him across the Continent into a world of international intrigue–and the arms of Elodie Lefevre, the society hostess who brought shame to his family.

Is she seductress, spy, or damsel in distress? In the haze of the sensual spell she casts, Will has to keep his wits about him and uncover the true nature of this mysterious Madame....

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