Dominic Ransleigh came back from Waterloo diminished: he now wore an eyepatch but had lost an arm. Dandy Dom, as he had been known before, had dedicated a great deal of his life to his horses, but he now faced the unthinkable: he would have to part with his beloved animals. And that's the day Fate threw Miss Theodora Branwell in his path, literally. Oddly enough, in their little village, Dominic and Theodora had never encountered each other: he had been away for a long time in the army and Theo was raised abroad. Theo, whose father and fiancé were both killed in the war, has decided to dedicate her life to taking care of war orphans and abandoned children, but she needs a bigger place to accommodate her charges, and Dominic Ransleigh is the one who can provide a suitable place. However their first meeting doesn't go very well, but what Theo wants, Theo usually gets.

THE RAKE TO REVEAL HER is the latest instalment in Julia Justiss' Ransleigh Rogues series but it can be read as a standalone without any problem. Dominic Ransleigh is directionless: physically scarred, he has broken up with his fiancée because he considers himself unworthy; he cannot foresee any happiness in his future until Theo Branwell bulldozes her way into his life. Theo and Dom have much in common, they both feel like strangers in a strange land; they become friendly over time, but neither hopes for anything more than friendship as they cannot seem to be able to shake the ghosts from the past.

Theo is a splendid character, and she feels totally real: Ms. Justiss has created a character so multifaceted, so full of nuances, that the reader can picture her mannerisms, her smile, her life, as well as identify with her. Theo is "deplorably outspoken", does not know much about the rules of etiquette, but she is the gust of wind that drives the clouds away from Dom's miserable existence. She cares not one iota that Dom is physically imperfect; what she sees is a handsome man with surmountable shortcomings if he would only make an effort, and this shakes the army veteran to the core. They are very much attracted to each other and I love how Ms. Justiss subtly brings the characters together; Theo and Dom flirt according to what is consider proper, as best as they can. How wonderful it is to watch Theo slowly bring Dom out of his shell, and how she herself grows thus doing. Theo and Dom are both very engaging, and it is a thing of beauty watching them bond over books, horses, shared experiences and bluebells...

Yet again, I must bring to the readers' attention Ms. Justiss' utterly breathtaking writing, be it the narrative or the dialogues: THE RAKE TO REVEAL HER is an exquisitely crafted piece of literature. The author never strays from the proper vocabulary; the prose is luminous, historically accurate to the minutest detail; a must read for historical romance fans!

Book Summary

The soldier next door...

Dominic Ransleigh lost more than his arm in battle—he lost his reason for living. Returning to his family seat, he shuns all society. If only his beautiful, plainspoken tenant, Theodora Branwell, wasn't so hard to ignore-

Since her fiancé's death on the battlefield, Theo's devoted herself to caring for soldiers' orphans. She's powerfully attracted to Dom, but knows all too well the consequences of temptation. Is Theo, who's survived so much, brave enough to reveal her secret to her handsome, wounded neighbor?

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