A review by rjordan19
Pursued by the Rake by Mary Lancaster

adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋 (very vague language, flowery and poetic instead of explicit)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥 (one very vague open door scene)
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person from the hero and heroine a bit from the villain (Braden)
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? medium
When mains are first on page together: Not too far in, about 6% (there are some remembrances before this point)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: Yes, two months later
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy through NetGalley in e-book form 4 years past due
(Descriptions found at end of my review)

Should I read in order?
This is the first in Lancaster’s Season of Scandal series.

Basic plot:
Hazel is ruined and desperate to find a place of safety. Help turns up in the unexpected and unwanted form of Joseph Sayle.

Give this a try if you want:
- Regency
- class difference elements – diplomat hero and ‘nobody’ heroine
- ruined heroine
- light road trip vibes
- diplomat hero
- former princess handmaiden
- close proximity
- villain to overcome
- low steam – one scene that is very light and a few kisses

Ages:
- Heroine is 22, didn’t catch hero

First line:
The residence of the Princess of Wales blazed with light.

My thoughts:
I really love the idea of this series. Compromised/ruined heroine is one of my favorite tropes so a whole series that features that sounds really fun to me!

But this one sadly fell a bit flat for me. There’s a lot of uncertainty from the heroine and a lot of self doubt. Lots of toeing around how each other feels while dealing with a villain, mystery side characters and some minor other woman drama.

The steam was a let down for me. It was open door but very light.

Content warnings: These should be taken as a minimum of what to expect. It’s very possible I have missed some.

- kidnapping of the heroine
- purposeful ruination by the villain and attempting to force the heroine to be his mistress
- parental death


Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
 
Safe sex: 
  I don't believe so but it's so vague you can't tell 
 
Hows the consent? 
  It's good!
 
42% - kiss
90% - kiss
94% - kiss, very vague open door scene (can’t really tell position, not a lot of details in any way and short scene)