All her life, Miss Gladys Bell was a wallflower whose parents despaired of her ever attracting a suitor.
Welcome to one of the March 20th stops on the blog tour for Taming the Rake by Erica Ridley with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.
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About the Book
Taming the Rake
Lords in Love Book Two
by Erica Ridley
Publishing 24 March 2023
WebMotion
Genre: Historical Romance
Page Count: 198
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Enjoy a fiery, passionate enemies-to-lovers revenge romance from a New York Times bestselling author!
All her life, Miss Gladys Bell was a wallflower whose parents despaired of her ever attracting a suitor. Then she met the man of her dreams, who said she was the woman of his. One passionate night later, Gladys awaits a marriage proposal that never comes. Reuben Medford, the ton’s most notorious rake, doesn’t even remember her name.
Thanks to his cold-hearted callousness, Gladys lost her reputation, her dowry, and her chance at love. But now she’s back, and bent on revenge. He’s trifled with the wrong woman: This wallflower has thorns. Once Gladys holds that damnable rake’s arrogant, fickle heart in her hands… She’ll crush it, just as he did to her.
This time, he’ll remember her name.
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Excerpt
One of the other wallflowers caught Gladys staring in longing and jerked her arm back toward the wall.
“Yes, that’s the finest man in England,” the girl hissed. “No, he is not interested in you. Or any of us.”
“Who is he?” Gladys whispered back, unable to tear her eyes away.
“Reuben Medford,” answered one of the other wallflowers. Her eyes widened at the blank expression on Gladys’s face. “You’ve never heard of Reuben Medford?”
Gladys didn’t want to admit that the only balls she’d ever attended were here at this public festival—and that she’d never met any man, Mr. Medford or otherwise. “I haven’t had the pleasure.”
The first wallflower snorted. “Ironic. You’re certain you haven’t heard the gossip?”
Gladys had no one to gossip with. Her best and only friend was her little sister, and neither was allowed to read the newspaper or scandal sheets for fear it might give them unladylike notions. She and her sister weren’t even allowed to read novels, due to Mother’s fear the content might corrupt their impressionable minds and somehow make them unmarriageable.
The only thing Gladys had to draw on were fairy tales. Mr. Medford certainly seemed the embodiment of Prince Charming. Gladys would give anything for a fairy godmother to place her in his arms.
“I don’t gossip,” was all she said aloud. “But… I don’t mind if you do. Tell me about him. Please.”
“If you want my advice? Forget you ever saw him. Reuben Medford is heir presumptive to his uncle Viscount Oldfield, and therefore far above our humble status.”
“Medford is also well off in his own right,” another wallflower added. “If he already possessed a title, he’d be the most eligible bachelor of the ton.”
Gladys’s eyes widened in awe. Even a man like that must resort to a country matchmaking festival to find a bride? But of course he must be here for that reason. No unmarried gentlemen attended this matchmaking festival unless they were explicitly and actively hunting for a wife.
No problem at all, Mr. Medford. Gladys would happily nominate herself for the position.
About the Author
Erica Ridley is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of witty, feel-good historical romance novels, including THE DUKE HEIST, starring the Wild Wynchesters. Why seduce a duke the normal way, when you can accidentally kidnap one in an elaborately planned heist?
In the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, enjoy witty, heartwarming Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke!
Two popular series, the Dukes of War and Rogues to Riches, feature roguish peers and dashing war heroes who find love amongst the splendor and madness of Regency England.
When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found eating couscous in Morocco, zip-lining through rainforests in Central America, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.
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Giveaway Alert!
Erica Ridley will be awarding a Winner’s choice ebook or paperback copies of the first TWO books in the Wicked Dukes Club series! (ebooks international) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway| Mar 20 | The Key Of Love | Mar 20 | Westveil Publishing |
| Mar 21 | Literary Gold | Mar 22 | All the Ups and Downs |
| Mar 23 | Rogue’s Angels | Mar 23 | Hope. Dreams. Life… Love |
| Mar 24 | Novels Alive | Mar 27 | Books to Light Your Fire |
| Mar 27 | Iron Canuck Reviews & More | Mar 28 | Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read |
| Mar 29 | Jazzy Book Reviews | Mar 29 | BJ Sikes author, indie writer of fantastical history |
| Mar 30 | Twirling Book Princess | Mar 30 | Aubrey Wynne Timeless Love |
| Mar 31 | Maggie Blackbird |
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Thanks for hosting!
Thank you so much for having me here today, and for helping to spread the word about TAMING THE RAKE! I hope you love the entire Lords In Love series! XOXO