Rake With a Frozen Heart

by Marguerite Kaye

Published by: Harlequin

My Rating: 

Blurb From Goodreads: 

Waking up in a stranger’s bed, Henrietta Markham encounters the most darkly sensual man she has ever met. The last thing she remembers is being attacked by a housebreaker—yet being rescued by the notorious Earl of Pentland feels much more dangerous!

Since the cataclysmic failure of his marriage, ice has flowed in Rafe St. Alban’s veins. But meeting impetuous, all-too-distracting governess Henrietta heats his blood to the boiling point.

When she’s accused of theft, Rafe finds himself offering to clear her name. Can Henrietta’s innocence bring this hardened rake to his knees?

My Review:

Rafe St Alban is an Earl, he is reclusive, cold, and a rake. When Rafe comes across a young woman injured and unconscious on his property, he is unprepared for his world to be tilted on its axis. The young woman in question is Henrietta Markham, a governess who has been caught up in a robbery. As Henrietta’s situation becomes more complicated, Rafe becomes more determined to help the woman. As the pair go about trying to clear Henrietta’s name and discover the truth, they develop an attraction. However, Rafe has been deeply hurt in the past and is determined to not be hurt again. He must keep Henrietta from getting to close, but he might be too late.

I really enjoyed the Rake With A Frozen Heart, the romance is sweet. Henrietta is very much an innocent, and Rafe is the opposite. Rafe’s relationship with his deceased ex-wife damaged him, made him determined to never open his heart again. He has many regrets and can’t let the past go. Henrietta is the only woman to come along and challenge him. She is unconventional in that she speaks her mind and she is always honest. I liked both characters very much and they work well together.

The main hindrance to their relationship is Rafe’s inability to open his heart. What doesn’t really compute is the fact that Henrietta’s status is much lower than Rafe’s. She is an untitled governess. Her lack of social standing doesn’t really come into play in the book, and I found that a bit odd. As an Earl, Rafe would be expected to marry a woman of higher status. Henrietta’s mother’s family obviously comes from a higher standing family, but it is never fully explained.

Overall, I found the Rake With A Frozen Heart to be a touching historical romance about overcoming the past and opening the heart to love. The Rake With A Frozen Heart is a fairly quick read and a wholly enjoyable historical romance read.

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