Review - Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah Maclean

Published 30 March 2010
Published by Avon

Summary from Goodreads - A lady does not smoke cheroot. She does not ride astride. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen's club. 

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried—and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she's vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she's been missing.

But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss—to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston—charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.

If she's not careful, she'll break the most important rule of all—the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love . . .

See, the thing is, i'm not much of a romance fan, especially when it doesn't involve chaste meetings at lockers between classes, or sneaky kisses under the bleachers.  So, when I decided to read this book after much insistence from Alea, I wasn't sure what to expect.  Well, first off, can I just say, you are going to need flame retardent panties if you ever plan on reading this book, because normal panties just won't cut it.  In fact, I suggest only reading this book when you have hours and hours to read, because I am telling you, real life just kind of fades into the background where this book is concerned.

Holy CRAP this book is hot.  Like if this book was a stereo system, it's be that one that dude wants in the Italian Job, y'know, the one that blows your clothes right off.  In fact, at this present moment, I have no idea where my copy of this book is, because it's off doing the rounds with my friends.  And I don't like to share books, so to say that I want just about everyone I know to read this book so we can discuss the filth inside the pages, says a LOT.  Avon, when you publish another book with this level of hotness, then I think it should come with a warning, like "FLAMMABLE" because well, clothes melting is something that is a definite possibility.

Callie girl, I know high fives were not something that Rengency England were aware of, but *high five* because that list of despicable sordid things ladies should never ever do rocked my socks.  AND that fact that you actually decided on your own back that you were not going to conform to what people think a lady should or should not do, reminded me that the best power of all powers is GIRL POWER!!  Callie as a character was just the perfect protagonist for this story, she was insecure but still very determined and independant.  She *hated* the fact that even at 27 she was seen as "on the shelf" and that fact that she took her future in her own hands and didn't give a drat about her reputation made me so frickin happy.  CALLIE, we must go and drink whiskey in a mens club and destroy our reputations!

Such a funny, fresh and deliciuosly scandalous introduction to the Historical Romance genre.  Ralston, be still my beating heart.  Also, I have flame retardant panties, so give me a call.  Fabulous!