Book Review

Cold-Hearted Rake
by Lisa Kleypas

This historical romance begins with Devon Ravenel inheriting an earldom when his cousin dies suddenly after just three days of marriage. Devon finds himself with a crumbling estate to manage, as well as his cousin's widow Kathleen, and three young sisters to deal with. Devon and Kathleen find each other attractive, yet their strong wills put them at odds right away. Over time, they grow to respect and understand each other, and ultimately fall in love.
While Kathleen could be prickly, I greatly liked her backbone and sympathized with her struggle to adhere to 19th century notions of proper widowhood while also wanting to follow her heart. Devon's transformation from rake to responsible landowner and tender lover was enjoyable, although he could still be a bit too commanding at times for my tastes, as the alpha archetype has never been my thing. I did like that the events took place over several months, which allowed for a slower development.