⭐⭐⭐ Was I hooked by that book? Yes, somewhat. A scoundrel meets his match in this sweet, childhood friends-to-lovers romance.

Hadrian Oakfield, Viscount Whitby, is a notorious rake whose name is whispered with both fear and fascination. Although accustomed to the scandalous limelight, Hadrian finds himself ensnared in the Brazen Belle’s devious web of exposure. Determined to salvage his reputation and protect his heart from the relentless matchmakers of the ton, he devises a daring plan. Lilliana Bennett, a steadfast bluestocking and Hadrian’s long-time friend, becomes his unlikely ally. Lilliana will pose as Hadrian’s fiancée, their fake engagement acting as a shield against the prying eyes and wagging tongues of society. Together, they navigate the treacherous waters of gossip, risking their friendship in the process. As the charade unfolds, Lilliana finds herself swept away by the allure of Hadrian’s roguish charm. The lines between pretense and passion blur, and their carefully constructed façade begins to crumble under the weight of their growing desires.

MY THOUGHTS

Seducing September’s Scoundrel is the ninth book in The Rake Review series, one book for each month of the year written by different authors. And reminiscent of Bridgerton, it comes complete with its own scandal sheet, The Rake Review, penned by the Brazen Belle. Mr. September in our calendar of rakes is Hadrian Oakfield, Viscount Whitby.

It was hard to pin down Lilliana’s personality. Her actions were mostly in reaction to what was happening around her. Lilliana’s love for Hadrian, initially at least, was heavily based on the boy she remembered. She knew very little about the man when they were married. Not that there was much to know about Hadrian. He lived a fairly one-dimensional life that was mostly aimed at irritating his father. Hadrian probably didn’t know himself that well either. He had some introspective moments after reconnecting with Lilliana, but for the most part he was pretty selfish in his decision-making. Until all his ill-advised chickens came home to roost and he was forced to change.

I must say though that the author did an excellent job of describing Hadrian’s anguished thoughts on how his selfish actions had affected others and what it might mean for his future.

Overall, I liked this story, but I can’t say that I had strong feelings about Lilliana or Hadrian or their relationship. 

Were you hooked by that book? Let me know in the comments below.

Genre: Historical Romance
Published: September 1, 2024
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: The Rake Review
Other books in the series: Jilted in January, The Fake February Rake, Mad Duke March, It’s Raining Rakes in April, One Fine May, The Scot Who Made June Hot, A Scandal in July, An Heiress for August