A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO RAKES – Suzanne Enoch
The Scandalous Brides , Book 1
St. Martin's Paperbacks
ISBN-13: 978-0-312-53451-6
October 2011
Historical Romance

London, England – Early 1800's

Very seldom does Oliver Warren, the Marquis of Haybury, get flustered.  But when he hears the words “Lady Cameron” it takes all his self control not to react.  Diane Benchley, Lady Cameron, has returned to London after several years in Vienna .  Diane and her husband Lord Cameron had to flee London because of their creditors over two years ago, but then Frederick died in Vienna, leaving her almost broke, with debts owed all around.  Now she has returned to the Adam House, the family residence, in grand style.  Oliver regrets his association with Diane; mere weeks after her husband's death he had a fortnight affair with her, and then left abruptly, leaving her alone in a strange place.  He still thinks of her, and now she's back in town…what can she be doing back in London ?

Diane has returned to London because she has a partner ready to help her invest in a gaming club, except the day she returns, her partner, Lord Blalock, dies in a fox hunting accident.  The only thing she can think of is to make a proposition to her old lover, Oliver Warren.  But why will he loan her the money to start her gaming house?  Diane has a letter from a man who wagered with him that accuses him of cheating.  This would mean Oliver's immediate expulsion from the ton and the loss of all his friends.  Just five thousand pounds will pay for making Adam House into an outstanding gaming club with games of chance, dining, and other private rooms.  Oliver would also be priceless in training all the employees, who Diane is determined will all be women and a sure come-on for all the gambling men in London .

When Oliver moves in to Adam House and helps set up the club, he learns Diane is definitely carrying a grudge over the way he left Vienna two years ago, but there's nothing he can say to explain why he did it.  Oliver quickly finds out Diane is determined to make all decisions for herself—he might suggest things, but Diane is in charge of her own destiny.  But is there room in Diane's life for Oliver?  How can he redeem himself in her eyes?

Suzanne Enoch once again captures our attention with her charming and yet troubling tale of revenge…revenge we can easily identify with.  Diane has lived her life up to now at the whim of her parents and a husband who cared more for betting than their marriage.  It is only after his death that she dares take her life in her own hands and plan how to get solvent again, while many details still must be worked out to start a gaming club.  Oliver inherited his title and the money from his uncle when he died, and though he had a memorable time with Diane, he has tried ever since to forget her.  They both have gotten where they are by using their wits, yet it is Diane whose heart was broken by him, and that's not something a woman easily forgets or forgives, right?

There are several quirky and, of course, dastardly secondary characters.  Oliver's friends, Appleton and Jonathan Sutcliffe, Lord Manderlin, are as close as proper English gentlemen can be and go along with anything Oliver needs a hand with.  Anthony Benchley, the new Lord Cameron and her husband's brother, can't for the life of him figure out how Diane got the money to start her club, but obviously he is due his share of the profits.  Genevieve Martine is Diane's Jill-of-all-trades and has hidden talents that come in handy.

A BEGINNER'S GUUIDE TO RAKES, while a tempestuous romance, still holds the remnants of the hurt Diane suffered through for the past two years, and it's dicey whether or not Oliver can gain her trust again, let alone her love.  You'll suffer along with Diane and secretly hope Oliver will find the magic words or actions to convince Diane of his love.  Throw in a little game of getting Anthony to go away, and you have a wonderful story that will have you feeling happy and satisfied that Oliver and Diane share a love that will last.

Carolyn Crisher