Review: Wild, Wild Rake (The Cavensham Heiresses #6) by Janna MacGregor

Print Length: 368 pages

Publisher: St.Martin's Press (February 25, 2020)

From Goodreads.com:  Her first marriage was an epic failure.

Lady Avalon Warwyck never did love her husband. Arrogant, selfish, and cruel, it’s a blessing when she’s widowed and left to raise her son all by herself. Finally, Avalon can live freely and do the work she loves: helping fallen women become businesswomen. She’s lived these past ten years with no desire to remarry―that is, until Mr. Devan Farris comes to town.

Can he convince her to take another chance at happily ever after?

Devan Farris―charming vicar, reputed rake, and the brother of Avalon’s son’s guardian―is reluctantly sent to town to keep tabs on Avalon and her son. Devan wishes he didn’t have to meddle in her affairs; he’s not one to trod on a woman’s independent nature and keen sense of convictions. But she’ll have nothing to do with vicar with a wild reputation―even though he’s never given his heart and body to another. If only he could find a way to show Avalon who he really is on the inside―a good, true soul looking for its other half. But how can prove that he wants to love and care for her. . .until death do they part?

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My Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Like the other novels in this series, this story completely stands alone. While there may be mention of characters found in prior novels, it is done in a way that enhances the readers' enjoyment of the current story without overshadowing it in any way. Speaking only to this novel... this one was hard to stay invested in. For one thing, I found it hard to understand how Devan didn't come under fire from the Bishop long before he did. While his reputation was apparently a lie, he was supposedly well known for being a womanizer and a devilish rake. Tell me, what parish would condone a vicar with that kind of reputation proceeding him? How could the Bishop not have intervened for the good of the church? Instead, they waited until circumstances forced them to address the issue. And then there was Avalon. She was..... something else altogether. Deeply hurt during her marriage, it was understandable why she had sworn off men, choosing instead to focus on raising her son. What wasn't understandable is why her son not only appeared to be coddled but spoke like a man instead of the child he was supposed to be. I also found it hard to believe that Avalon would essentially throw herself at Devan during her soiree knowing that he was sent there to spy on her. Regardless of how she felt, she didn't completely trust him (as was evidenced later on in the novel), so I cannot begin to fathom why she would risk giving him, and by extent his brother, ammunition against her. Also, I did not care for the fact that she used Devan's brother's perceived "threat" to pretend that she hadn't gone into those negotiations with him and the Bishop knowing exactly how it was going to end. She even alludes to as much during her discussions, but suddenly it was forced?

Now don't get me wrong, there were some lovely moments where these two slowly become friends, and even more moments when they wrestle for control of the situation, and/or purposely goad one another. There just weren't enough of these moments to overshadow all the others that made this one so hard to get into. 

Overall, I am sure there are loads of people (fans of this series and fans of historical romance in general) that will enjoy this one more than I did. But I will definitely read more from this author (especially if they have to do with this family).

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                              Wild, Wild Rake is available from Amazon.com