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    The Rake
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    The Rake
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    The Rake
    Audiobook13 hours

    The Rake

    Written by Mary Jo Putney

    Narrated by Mark Meadows

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Known as the despair of the Davenports, Reginald is a disinherited, disgraced alcoholic who is headed for a bad end - that is, until the new Earl of Wargrave gives him one last chance at redemption by letting him take his place as the heir of Strickland, his lost ancestral estate.

    Masquerading as a man in order to obtain a position as estate manager of Strickland, Lady Alys Weston came to Strickland after having fled her home, her wealth, and her title due to betrayal and despair. She vowed never to trust another man, but when the new owner appears, his dangerous masculinity threatens everything Alys holds dear, awakening a passion that she thought she would never feel again - a passion that will doom or save them both...

    ©1998 Mary Jo Putney (P)2017 Dreamscape Media, LLC

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDreamscape Media Audio
    Release dateJun 13, 2017
    ISBN9781520075754
    Unavailable
    The Rake
    Author

    Mary Jo Putney

    Mary Jo Putney was born in upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she became a ten-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, has published over forty books, and was the recipient of the 2013 RWA Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland.

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    Reviews for The Rake

    4/5

    20 ratings14 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Alys, has for the past four years worked as a Estate Manager for Strickland. Very few know that the estate manager is a woman. Alys has had to do everything to make a life for herself; and its been far from easy. When she overhears a conversation that her fiancee is only marrying her for her money, and to learn her father sides with him, she runs away and never returns. Now she has made a success at being a manger, and has improved Strickland more than any other manager has ever done. She has three wards, that are like her own children, knowing that she may never have any of her own, now that she has recently turned 30. Then she learns that she has a new boss, Reginald Davenport. Reggie has made a life of debauchery, drinking, gambling. He feels as if he is losing himself with all of the drinking but doesn't know how to stop. When his cousin, the Earl, gives him no choice but to take responsibility over Strickland, which is his families ancestral estate that was lost to him. With no allowance now from his cousin, he decides to go to the country, and settle in his new estate, where he meets his estate manager and much to his surprise is a woman. At first he is skeptical keeping a woman on for a man's job, but when he starts to see how much she has done for the estate, he keeps her on. A battle of wills forms between two people, where a explosion of passion erupts, a passion that could either save or destroy them.The Rake is the second installment in the Davenport family. As far as I can tell there are only two connecting books in the series. For a while I have heard so many good things about this book and this author. This is my first time reading her, and after reading The Rake, I have no idea I waited so long to try this author out. The Rake was a stirring and emotionally driven story that was very intense at times. The story starts out slowly but definitely speeds up once Alys and Reggie begin to have a sizzling chemistry. The plot is full of a few twists and turns but nothing that totally shocks the reader. The theme of this story was unique and I enjoyed the way this author played out the story. The hero is a bit darker than I expected. Reggie is a alcoholic and you see how for some people alcohol makes people do things they would never do otherwise. I loved how Alys realizes Reggie's problem and doesn't just abandon him, but fights for him every step of the way. The story between them is tender and enduring.Overall I would say this was one of my top favorite historical romances I have read in a while. Even though it took a while for me to get fully into the story, by the time I was about halfway through it, I was enthralled. This story is poignant and powerful, full of heart wrenching emotion that you will need quite a few tissues. A memorable love story that will steal your heart!!
    • 5/5
      "The Rake", by Mary Jo Putney, features an unusual historical romance story line. The title character is not just a self-indulgent pleasure-seeker, he is a true alcoholic. He suffers blackouts with loss of memory, violent mood swings, and depression. Reginald Davenport, trapped by his heritage, and unbeknownst to him, denied his true birthright, loses his family at a young age. Forced into a regimented education, treated with cruelty and disdain, Reggie learns how to protect himself from others. Keenly intelligent, capable, and sharp of wit, Reggie rebels against his societal limitations by engaging in wild behavior and excessive drinking. Closing in on age forty, Reggie is a man who seems fated to meet an early, unfortunate death. A chance at redemption comes when his cousin helps him to regain his childhood home, which had been unrightfully withheld from Reggie by the uncle who was his guardian. Arriving at Strickland, his ancestral estate, Reggie is shocked to find that the extremely competent steward of the property is a woman. Not just any woman, but a tall, intriguing, intelligent woman. Lady Alys Weston is not a classic beauty, but she has a unique loveliness all her own. As kind as she is keen, Alys is unlike any other woman Reggie has ever met. She finds him to be equally captivating, and even though she sees the signs of dissipation from his roguish ways, Alys senses that there is much more to Reggie than his appearance indicates. The two form a good working relationship, with attraction simmering just below the surface. Alys has three wards in her care, a young lady blooming into womanhood and the girl's two younger brothers. As they all spend time together, sharing meals and other activities, Reggie enjoys his makeshift "family". He throws himself into the care and operation of the estate, about which he is extremely knowledgeable. He and Alys have great mutual respect, and each begins to yearn for the possibility of a life together. However, Reggie's drinking still threatens to win the battle for his soul, and there are other dark forces at work. Alys has secrets of her own, and she and Reggie have common enemies. Will Reggie conquer his own demons and vanquish the threats to his newfound family happiness? Can Alys face her past and embrace her future? Mary Jo Putney paints a revealing portrait of a man struggling with alcohol addiction and the effects his disease has on those around him. As with many who suffer with alcoholism, it is also a condition shared with other family members. In Reggie's case, his father was also an alcoholic, something that Reggie had blocked out along with other unpleasant memories. I applaud Mary Jo Putney for showing the complexities of the alcoholic personality. Reggie is not the usual romantic hero, but he is ultimately quite worthy.Book Copy Gratis Kensington Books
    • 3/5
      Good ol' angst and insecurity, I wouldn't read historical romances without it. I ADORED Alys, related a lot too, except for her background. As the book's dedication indicates, it's a bit preachy about the AA approach to alcoholism, but while Reggie's journey to sobriety does dominate the tale, there is enough of Alys' struggle with her sense of self to balance it and make me like it. (3.5 stars)
    • 5/5
      Alys Weston is running from her past, and Reggie Davenport is fleeing his future. Fate brings them together on Reggie's Dorset estate, Strickland.

      It's uncommon, to say the least, for a woman to be an estate steward, yet Alys has been able to pull off that job for four years, communicating with the absentee owner in writing. When Reggie's cousin, the new owner, gives the estate over to Reggie, Alys sees her idyll coming to an end. Yet, when Reggie arrives at Strickland, he proves to be surprisingly open-minded, impressed Alys's success, and keeps her on as steward.

      Reggie is a rake of the first order, but more than that, he's a drunkard who, at age thirty-seven, has begun to suffer blackouts. Even he has become convinced that his life is on a dangerous trajectory; a voice in his head keeps telling him, "This way of life is killing you." He believes that Strickland may be his salvation.

      Alys and Reggie gradually become friends, and though they are attracted to one another, nothing more than a few kisses are exchanged. When fire destroys the steward's house, Alys and her three young wards move into the estate house, and Reggie begins to know the joys of a family for the first time in his life.

      But Reggie's real problem is his drinking, and a great deal of this story revolves around his efforts to first get it under control and later to stop altogether. It's heartbreaking to watch him try and fail and try again.

      Mary Jo Putney does an excellent job portraying the inner demons that plague Reggie. At the same time, she doesn't succumb to the temptation that some writers might feel to make Reggie's recovery all about his love for Alys. Reggie is getting sober for himself, not for someone else. And while Putney does lapse into a bit of AA one-day-at-a-time-speak occasionally, she is able to keep the story from sounding too modern.

      There's an engaging cast of secondary characters and a couple of other romances. And I particularly enjoyed the epilogue: after Reggie and Alys marry, the other characters are shown reacting to the news, wrapping the whole story up quite nicely.

      I picked out this book because of its high GR ratings, its having won the RITA in 1990, and its ranking in AAR's Top 100 romances of all time. All these accolades are well and truly deserved.

      I don't know what else to say other than this is a really good book, and I highly recommend it.
    • 5/5
      A 'classic' for a multitude of reasons-smart, sexy, and interesting.
    • 2/5
      Not awful, but not worth the time it took to read. Characters were somewhat likable but sort of stupid, and their problems and behavior often beggared belief.
    • 4/5
      Intriguing and truly unique story in a saturated genre. I loved Reggie. Normally I like MJP's level-headed and reasonable women, but I couldn't help wishing Reggie had a more passionte (emotionally speaking) heroine.
    • 4/5
      Reggie Davenport is this gambling drunk who is given land from his cousin, the earl, to maintain. While there he finds that the caretaker is actually a female. It's unconventional but the plotline is deepened by the alcoholism that you see the hero must overcome. Putney has always written well versed novels. This was one of them.
    • 2/5
      I can't believe I actually finished this one. So, one of the main characters is an alcoholic but he gets better through prayer and the book is dedicated to someone who is a "friend of Bill W.". The book has several references to AA type of recovery although AA is not mentioned. I don't know, I just didn't enjoy this book and found myself flipping through pages at the end just to prove I could finish it.
    • 4/5
      The Rake by Mary Jo Putney is a charming novel about two characters who both try to throw convention to the wind and live life on their own terms. Reginald Davenport is a rake. It's true. It even says so in the title. He was adopted by his uncle after the tragic loss of his parents. His uncle is not a kind man. To get back at his uncle, who would do anything to avoid embarrassment, Reginald acts out. He's a womanizer and a card shark. Alys Weston has a more mysterious past. However it's not the past that's interesting it's her present. Alys is the steward of Strickland, the estate that Reginald recently inherited. Reginald arrives at Strickland to find out his steward is a woman. He is shockingly not at all disturbed by this fact. Actually not many characters in this novel are shocked by it. Alys is a smart, clever, hard working woman but because of the conventions that woman were bound to in this time period, I was a little disappointed that Alys didn't meet with more opposition. Despite my qualms, The Rake is an engaging story. Reginald is a flawed character that struggles with drinking. He also wants to prove himself a better man than most people perceive him to be. Alys is strong willed and always on the defensive. It's like she always is trying to prove to everyone that she is capable. She's also the adoptive parent to three children. She has a lot on her plate. Alys and Reginald work well together. They have a lot more in common that either of them think. Both of them are trying to prove they are more than meets the eye. This book is full of mystery, danger, and yes, romance. It's a fun read that you should definitely check out.
    • 5/5
      Read this many years ago and I still think of it sometimes. Big influence. Quite a few romance writers would agree, I think. It was unique for its time. Mary Jo Putney is such a great writer.
    • 5/5
      I liked that the book was dedicated to Bill W. It definitely was very much in line with AA's principles.

      My grandfather sobered up through AA and this book mirrored everything he had told us about his drinking and his sobering up.
    • 3/5
      I have some rather mixed feelings about this book. It is not exactly what I expected. I generally enjoyed it but still.

      Let’s start with the good things. I really like the characters. Alys is a strong and smart heroine without being annoying. And I really like Reggie – he is not your typical alpha man from the historical romance. Even disregarding his addiction to alcohol, he is a very interesting hero – intelligent, with witty humour and tragic past. And it should be stated that despite the fact that he is definitely a tortured hero, his past is not overwhelming. He makes a very nice couple with Alys.

      Another thing that I want to mention and this one I’m not so positive about is the plot. The whole book doesn’t focus on the romance, as you may expect, but more on Reggie’s struggle with his addiction. The other events are somewhat secondary. I would really prefer to see more romance or in fact a relationship development. Instead Alys and Reggie feel a strong connection between them from the very beginning and fight with the blooming passion. Don’t get me wrong. I like this aspect of the story and the fact that they don’t just go to bed on the first few pages. But I get the impression that the book does not pay too much attention to their relationship. I feel unsatisfied.

      I enjoyed the whole experience, even though, it is not what I was looking for. I can recommend this book to the readers who are in search of something different in their historical romance, something more than simple romance.
    • 5/5
      Reginald Davenport is a disinherited alcoholic rake. Lady Alys Weston has been sort of masquerading as a man in order to keep her job as steward of Davenport’s newly acquired estate. The two are about to meet and their lives will be forever altered.I loved it! The hero is flawed and the heroine is strong. The story flowed smoothly, the plot was engaging and the characters were interesting. I loved how Davenport struggled to beat his addiction to alcohol. It was a compelling account and had me rooting for him to win even when he fell off the wagon. Alys was no simpering heroine. She was strong in body and spirit, intelligent and not afraid to try new methods to make the estate she was in charge of prosperous for all who lived there.This was a first read of Putney’s work for me, but I enjoyed this book so much it won’t be the last.*The publisher provided a copy of this book to me for review. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.