In this 9th book in Christi Caldwell’s Heart of a Duke Series she introduces us to a bookful of chracters who are hard to like. The Farendales are possibly the worst parents ever. When their daughter Genevieve is left at the altar on her wedding day with a note from her betrothed saying she was ruined, instead of standing up for their daughter, they accuse her of creating a scandal and send her away to the country. They bring her back to town 5 years later, not because she has been punished enough but because her sister needs to make a match.
They are surpassed in cruelty only by The Duke of Ravenscourt, father to the Marquess of Saint Albans. The Duke is a cruel and depraved man who has shared his depravity with his son Cedric, initiating with a whore at the age of 13. While the Duke has left bastards all over the country, at least Cedric has managed to make better use of birth control. The one thing his father wants from him now is to marry and produce an heir but Cedric refused to spread his tainted blood to another generation.
Genevieve and Cedric meet accidently at the Duke’s Ball – neither knowing who the other was. While it wasn’t love at first site, there certainly was an attraction. Within a week they are married but it isn’t a love match. He needs to marry to ensure that his father doesn’t cut off his funds. She needs to marry anyone or her father will marry her off to one of his school friends. Part of the agreement is that this will be a marriage of convenience. He will continue with his rakish ways and she will have freedom to do what she wishes.
Their marriage takes on an almost Jekyll and Hyde quality. By day, Cedric joins his wife in gardening or drawing and by night he continues to frequent his gentlemen’s clubs. Things come to a head when Genevieve decides to surprise him at a party one night and all her worst nightmares seem to come true.
She realizes that even though she loves Cedric it is not enough and she returns to the country. Only after losing her does Cedric realize what he has lost and must look inside himself to see if he would continue on as he was going or prove that he was the man she believed he could be.
Christi Caldwell writes amazing characters and you feel their pleasure and their pain. There were more than a few times where tears came to my eyes before she allowed us to share in the Happily Ever After. Even though this is the 9th book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone book. ( )

So it feels like I have been waiting forever to hear about Lady Cara family again (To Wed His Christmas Lady) and now we are finally here, I can hardly contain my excitement...but on with the story.

Lady Genevieve Farendale has been betrayed, not only by the man she was supposed to marry and whom sullied her name; but also by the two people whom were supposed to love and protect her unconditionally...Her parents. But instead of being believed she is shuffled off to the country and for 5 long years she stayed there. But now she has been summoned back to put on a good front for her family...until she does 2 thing wrong...firstly she got a little revenge on the man whom sullied her good name and secondly...she fell in love.

Cedric Falcot, the Marquess of St. Albans, had never known love or compassion. His father; The Duke of Ravenscourt was a hard task master and he was kept away from his little sister (Lady Cara), the only person he ever had in his corner was his friend the Earl of Montfort. But when he meets Genevieve, Cedric realizes that he has met a kindred spirit, he knows he needs to keep her in his life.

And just when everything is going right between Cedric and Genevieve, fate has to take all of the goodness away and Cedric is left praying that he can repair all of the damage.

To say this story is heartbreaking is quite frankly an understatement! I ugly cried for what felt like forever (more than likely 10 minutes though). Cedric and Genevieve story was so beautiful, sweet, funny and emotional devastating all at the same time, which ultimately made the story simply perfect.

You honestly can't help but fall in love with the characters and I found myself yelling at the book several times, acting like the characters were real! And it honestly goes without saying that the writing and plot were outstanding!

I give The Lure of a Rake an extremely well deserved 5 stars! ( )