Honoria Blake was bored and somewhat restless in the little Paris flat she shares with her friend Alexandra, where the Pimpernel's agents also hide and congregate. Honoria forges documents needed by the French who need to escape France and Madame Guillotine. Honoria was drafted by the League of the Pimpernel because of her ability at counterfeiting, which she came about very honestly. Excitement appeared in the form of Laurent Bourgogne, the Marquis de Montagne, when he stumbles at her door. Laurent's escape from La Force prison was engineered by the League because he has information to aid their cause. However, Laurent has something else on his mind: he will rescue the little princess Marie-Thérèse or die trying.

Shana Galen's stunning Scarlet Chronicles continue with this third instalment as the French Revolution rages on. TAKEN BY THE RAKE is just as much historical fiction as historical romance because Ms. Galen's scrupulous and mind-boggling research is seamlessly woven into an improbable romance. The premise is solidly grounded in historical facts, and I must admit it's quite educational. Honoria is a magnificent heroine, whom I loved from the very beginning. She works for a living in London, where she normally lives; she is very clever, extremely resourceful, and opinionated. When it comes to Laurent, I'm not sure if it's because Shana Galen portrayed him so accurately, but I struggled with him for a significant part of the book. He is the very embodiment of everything the revolutionaries despised of the aristocracy: he is haughty, entitled, arrogant, and it takes him a while to think of Honoria as more than an object of sexual gratification. Thankfully, in spite of being a bit dazzled by his beautiful exterior, Honoria doesn't foolishly fall at his feet; she is way too reasonable a woman for that, and she acknowledges his faults. I must add that the romantic moments were utterly exquisite and lovingly written.

TAKEN BY THE RAKE is one of Shana Galen's most action-packed stories. From the moment Laurent stumbles in her home, it doesn't stop, and danger lurks literally at every corner. Ms. Galen's writing is invisible, as she completely vanishes and let her characters live their story. The descriptions of Paris are so astonishingly vivid that I could not help but envision what a terrific movie it would make. Every book of Scarlet Chronicles is so outstanding, even the French would be impressed by the accuracy, and of course, entirely approve of the romance.

Book Summary

Sometimes beauty…

Honoria Blake knows she must have had a moment of madness when she accepted a summons by the Scarlet Pimpernel to travel to revolutionary Paris and help his League. She’s an expert forger and glad her services can be of use, but the violence of the Reign of Terror has her longing for her quiet, unobtrusive life in London. Then a bloody man staggers to the door of the house where she’s hiding, claiming he was sent by the Pimpernel. Recently escaped from La Force prison, the former Marquis de Montagne is sinfully handsome and charming. He’s also desperate enough to kidnap Honoria. So much for her return to the quiet life.

Can be a beast…

Laurent is a consummate rake, but even he is captivated by the beautiful Honoria. Laurent cares almost nothing for his own life, but he was always close to the royal family and the little princess was like a sister to him. He will risk everything to save her from a life of imprisonment and possible execution. His plan is risky and surely doomed, but if he can convince Honoria and the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel to help him, it just might succeed. The only question is how far he’s willing to go and whether he’s willing to risk the life of the only woman he’s ever loved to save a doomed princess.

Read an Excerpt