Cold-Hearted Rake (The Ravenels, #1) by Lisa Kleypas 🎧 Mary Jane Wells

Synopsis (via Goodreads): A twist of fate . . .

Devon Ravenel, London's most wickedly charming rake, has just inherited an earldom. But his powerful new rank in society comes with unwanted responsibilities . . . and more than a few surprises. His estate is saddled with debt, and the late earl's three innocent sisters are still occupying the house . . . along with Kathleen, Lady Trenear, a beautiful young widow whose sharp wit and determination are a match for Devon's own.

A clash of wills . . .

Kathleen knows better than to trust a ruthless scoundrel like Devon. But the fiery attraction between them is impossible to deny—and from the first moment Devon holds her in his arms, he vows to do whatever it takes to possess her. As Kathleen finds herself yielding to his skillfully erotic seduction, only one question remains:

Can she keep from surrendering her heart to the most dangerous man she's ever known? 

1) “The right words can bind someone more effectively than chains." 2) "Just because you don't understand or agree with something doesn't mean that it lacks merit."

The synopsis is a bit misleading, because Devon is nothing like the cold-hearted rake it promises. I never thought of Devon as cold-hearted or rakish. He may have pretended to be in the beginning, but it quickly becomes clear that’s not who he truly is. Devon is compassionate and consistently puts the well-being of others before his own. He didn’t want the responsibility that fell to him, but he handled it well and made improvements that benefited everyone, not just himself.

Despite his past exploits, Devon claims he hasn’t lived that way for quite some time and that those activities have lost their appeal. He was mostly bored with the life he’d been living, and I think he (subconsciously) saw this new responsibility as a challenge—something meaningful and exciting. While he sometimes vocalized thoughts that came across as insensitive, his actions almost always contradicted his unkind words.

The other characters were very well written, and I especially enjoyed reading about the twins. I think the other sister, Helen, will be the focus of the next book, but I’d really love to learn more about the twins and what their future holds. West (Devon’s brother) was definitely a scoundrel in the beginning, but he was also really funny. Over time, he fell in love with the people in the community and tried to better their lives however he could. He wasn’t the kind of man in a suit who was afraid to get his hands dirty, but the kind who rolls up his sleeves and offers to help. Everyone in this book was a joy to read about, and the story beautifully shows how a community working together can benefit everyone.

Kathleen is a strong female character who doesn’t clutch her pearls when a handsome man is nearby. She’s able to stand toe-to-toe with Devon even when he’s being impossible. I’m certain she influenced some of his decisions and pushed him to view the world differently. There are some shocking revelations about her, and I’m glad she was able to find her own happiness. No matter what her circumstances were, her heart always bled for others.

Cold-Hearted Rake was an enjoyable read. The writing is absolutely beautiful, and many of the phrases have stuck with me. I ended up buying the book just to justify the ridiculous number of sticky notes and tiny stars I used to mark my favorite passages. I’ve heard amazing things about Lisa Kleypas, and this was my first book by her. I definitely plan to read more of her work in the future, so if you have any recommendations, let me know!

Side note: I don’t know how people—especially children—survived mourning periods back then. It seems miserable and unhealthy. I doubt the deceased cared whether their loved ones covered the windows in black, wore veils, or secluded themselves from the world. I would want my family to keep living and enjoying life, because death only reminds us how short that life actually is. I can’t imagine trying to keep my three children indoors for a year because their father died and it would be considered “inappropriate” for them to play or enjoy themselves.