John Fitzhugh Barrett has grown up in the country and believed he was an illegitimate son. He was treated poorly by his grandmother; the Dowager Marchioness of Somerset and was left to a family in a country as an unwanted illegitimate child. Now John is surprised to learn that he is the heir to a Marquess, it seems that the marriage between his mother and father was never annulled and he is the true heir not his half-brother. Even though he has been elevated to the title of Lord Hartley, he still hasn't been accepted by aristocrats.

He is angry with his family for abandoning him when he was a child and refuses to go to the family seat in Somerfield Park, but he wants to take advantage of being a lord, unfortunately he ends up with some bad friends and spends his time gambling, drinking and going to Whitechapel's the most notorious boxing crib.

Miss Rebecca Kearsey is the daughter of a destitute baron and much like John isn't accepted by aristocrats. When she is kidnapped and taken to Whitechapel's g as a reward for the boxing winner, she is lucky that John is there and recognizes her. He fights hard to win and save her.

Rebecca is attracted to John from the first time they met in a museum and now that he saves her, she wants to help him to accept his family and be prepared for his title.

The Dowager Marchioness wants to make up for her mistake by finding a wife for her grandson in the house party and who is better than Rebecca to convince John to join the house party (of course his grandmother doesn't count Rebecca as a potential bride just a help).

NEVER RESIST A RAKE is the second book in Somerfield Park series and it can be read stand-alone. It is a fun historical romance with lots of characters and modern dialogue; I usually prefer that the dialogue and the story be in the same time period but still found this interesting. This story was more focused on the character development, the growing love between hero and heroine, and reuniting families.

Book Summary

Can he fool his new family?
John Fitzhugh Barrett, surprised to learn he is heir to a marquessate, is determined his new status won't mean giving up his freedom. But as families from all over England descend upon Somerfield Park for the shooting season, their unmarried daughters are lining up to bag the newest trophy buck-him.

Or is he only fooling himself?
John's instinct for self- preservation inspires him to divide his attentions between a scandalous young widow, and the safely ineligible Rebecca Kearsey, daughter of a destitute baron.

The charade gives John the illusion of controlling the game but when he loses his heart to the beautiful Rebecca, all bets are off.

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