Top Spot
Top Spot is a brand new monthly book blog meme hosted by the Skype Sisters. For this meme, we get to share our pick for Favorite Read of the Month. The favorite read can be any book, any genre, and can have released (or to-release) at any time, if the book was read in August, it qualifies for the August Top Spot. To participate, head on over to the Skype Sisters site to get the rules, and to list your blog post link on the linky. You can either write a review in the post, or link to the review, or just put up the blurb, doesn’t matter. Just share your favorite read!
My August Top Spot: The Rake and the Recluse by Jenn LeBlanc
I pick The Rake and the Recluse because I love the book, and the photographs throughout are beautiful. It is a historical romance story, and time travel is involved. This one tops my list for august. I haven’t posted the review yet, so here it is!
The Rake and the Recluse
by Jenn LeBlanc
Published by: Iris Photo Agency
Publish Date: January 2011
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating:
Blurb from Goodreads:
Francine Larrabee woke up on the wrong side of the century. She was fairly certain she went to sleep in her own comfy bed, but she doesn’t quite seem to be there now. Only adding to her problems is that she has no voice, is constantly being glowered at by a large, stunning man who is obsessed with propriety, and she is apparently betrothed to another horrid little man, determined to ruin her, and any other girls that get in his way.How does she find herself in the past, when she couldn’t even find herself in her present? How does a self sufficient businesswoman survive in a time when women were still considered property for the whole of their lives and what is she going to do with this man who draws her to him so fiercely. My Review:
In The Rake and the Recluse, Francine is somehow transported from present day to the late 1800′s where she finds herself injured at the home of a reclusive Duke. Not understanding what happened to her, Francine rails against her “captors” and acts quite strange, making those around her fear for her sanity. As time passes, the Duke (Gideon) and his household realize that Francine is not crazy, but she is very odd and has no memories of her previous life. Gideon and Francine are strangely and powerfully drawn together and the Duke must find out who she is before he can claim her for himself. Gideon and Francine’s relationship is threatened by Francine’s vulgar former fiancé, who claims to “own” her. Gideon must find a solution for Francine, without permanently ruining their reputations.
The Rake and the Recluse is an all-together beautiful book filled not only with an engaging time-travel historical romance story, but also with stunning photographs illustrating the story.
When you hear that a book is different or unique, sometimes that is just words, and there really is not too much unique. With The Rake and the Recluse, historical romance fiction is completely re-vamped, illustrated with stunning photography throughout the novel. The story is very well developed and written, and both unexpected and captivating. I loved the characters, their development and their personalities. The Rake and the Recluse is not a one-track story. Gideon’s brother plays a prominent role in the story as well as the reform-in-progress rake, and there is a side story romance between side characters giving the story more depth.
What I really likes about The Rake and the Recluse is that after what could have been the climax of the book, the story did not just wrap up and end. There was not an instant “happy ever after” (the characters did not just get home and everything was alright again). The story continued, creating an extremely well rounded book. This is not to say that everything in the book was answered. I would still love to know what comes next for several of the characters, including the Duke’s brother. That is a story line left open that I hope to learn more about in the future.
The Rake and the Recluse is brilliant and beautiful, a historical romance novel that should not be missed. Historical Romance readers, I very highly recommend reading The Rake and the Recluse!
The Author: Jenn LeBlanc, website: www.IllustratedRomance.comWhere to buy this book:
- E book Only $2.99 on Amazon!
This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
For best results, use HTML mode to edit this section of the post.
August 25, 2011 at 5:59 pm
Great review! I <3 this book not only for the pictures but for the story itself.
August 25, 2011 at 7:52 pm
Intriguing book! I’m curious about it. I love anything set in the 1800s usually.
August 25, 2011 at 8:13 pm
That book looks interesting, I love books that are set in the Victorian era (it sounds Victorian?) It would be intriguing to see a strong professional woman taken back to a time where women were considered property and had little or no right to make their own choices.. will have to look into the book!
Top Spot is so much fun!
April @ My Shelf Confessions
August 26, 2011 at 3:47 am
That sounds terrific. I don’t read much romance – I always found them pretty thin on plot – but it looks like there’s a lot going on!
(Please tell me the pictures include the handsome fellow on the cover!)
August 26, 2011 at 6:43 am
Oh I am going to have to get this one! I love great historicals and this one seems right up my alley!
August 26, 2011 at 3:32 pm
I’m not a fan of historicals normally, but you make this one sound so beautiful!! I like the idea of illustrations being in the book as well.
October 13, 2011 at 12:01 am
[...] in August, and I LOVED it, I rated it 5 stars, and it was my Top Spot Pick for the month. (Read my Review). With that, I’m turning the blog over to [...]
January 9, 2012 at 9:40 pm
[...] “Freedom.” I originally read The Rake and The Recluse, and I absolutely LOVED it! (Read my original review) Jenn LeBlanc, the author has since completely re-edited the entire book, added in new scenes and [...]
January 12, 2012 at 12:02 am
[...] novel, complete with extra scenes and the rake’s story! (Read my review of the original HERE). I am currently reading through the re-edited books, and I am absolutely loving them. With [...]