Once a Rake

Starred review from October 15, 2013

Framed for the attempted murder of the Duke of Wellington, Ian Ferguson, wounded and on the run, is desperate to get to London before the real traitors cut him down. His only hope is Lady Sarah Clarke, whose husband has been lost at Waterloo and on whose land Ian has been hiding out. Helping Ian could endanger Sarah and her vulnerable household, something he's not willing to allow until fever--and Sarah--take over his life. Danger from disparate sources threatens at every turn, but a touch of humor keeps things humming in this lively adventure that gets more intriguing as it goes along. The infamous flask continues to play its role in this dynamic, engaging series title. VERDICT Exquisite writing, historical accuracy, a clever plot, and complex, enthralling, walk-off-the-page characters make this another fascinating gem for the award-winning Dreyer (Always a Temptress). She lives in St Louis.

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 15, 2013
The last thing Sarah Clarke needs is another problem. She is already exhausted simply trying to make ends meet at Fairbourne, while keeping her husband's rundown estate out of the hands of his malevolent cousin Martin. Therefore, when Sarah stumbles across a wounded Colonel Ian Ferguson hiding on the estate, she knows the smart thing to do is to immediately turn him over to the authorities. After all, Ian is accused of trying to assassinate Wellington, and if Sarah is caught with him, she could lose what little she has left in life. Despite overwhelming circumstantial evidence, Sarah intuitively knows Ian is no traitor, but is that enough for her to risk everything for the love of one man? In the fourth addition to her top-notch Drake's Rakes series, Dreyer dazzles readers with her incomparable gift for creating heartbreakingly real characters and her inimitable flair for fusing sexy passion and dangerous intrigue in a richly emotional, wickedly witty, and altogether enthralling historical romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)