To Capture a Rake

Seduction

De: Lori Brighton

Narrado por: Fiona Underwood

After her husband's death, Elizabeth Ashton knows she must remarry - and fast. But not just any man will do. She must find Lord Ashton’s long-lost bastard nephew and convince him to wed, cementing his claim to the family fortune and rescuing Elizabeth from certain ruin. Her desperate search will reveal a world she never knew existed - and a love she never dreamed possible.

Forced into prostitution to protect his darkest secret, Gideon spends his days pleasuring London's wealthiest women. Only one hope burns inside his guarded heart: that someday he will escape the gilded confines of Lady Lavender's brothel and reclaim his freedom. When a widow hires him for a two-week-long seduction at her country estate, he spies his chance - never imagining the young beauty will reawaken a passion he thought long dead.

Bound by desire, only together are they strong enough to face their enemies - and to claim the promise of love.

©2013 Lori Brighton (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Better than the first one!

I have to say I listened to this one twice, just to make sure I didn't miss anything. Gideon's my favorite character in the series to date. I am glad I read To Seduce an Earl first so that I had the background knowledge that it took to fully understand this story. I liked this and had trouble putting it down to get my work done. It's an odd twist on fiction to follow the male prostitutes in these seduction series stories, but that's part of it's appeal as well since it is fun to have a different type of storyline. Definitely worth a credit!

to capture a rake

I can't wait to read James' story.I liked Gideon more than Alex but very close call.Elizabeth and Grace were someone you wished were your friends.
Enjoyed hearing about characters from other book.

A Captivating Read....

This book tells the story of Gideon Drake, a male prostitute who is forced into this lifestyle by the very powerful, but petite Lady Lavender, the owner of the upscale male brothel called Lavendar Hills. Gideon has been forced into this servitude for over a decade. Gideon tends to be rougher with clients and is the type who takes total control in the bedroom. For his “skills” he is a much desired commodity among the ladies of London who frequent the brothel. Gideon had been planning an escape for years, with no success. However, when Lady Elizabeth Ashton visits the brothel, little does Gideon know that his freedom has arrived……

THINGS I FOUND HARD TO PROCESS:
I suppose I had a hard time with the thought of forced prostitution, especially for a man like Gideon Drake. There is an underlying sorrow that a strong, independent man, with Scottish heritage, could be kept in servitude against his will. I suppose I don’t like the thought of anyone being enslaved and forced to perform on command. The good news is that he escapes!

GREAT & UNIQUE LOVE STORY:
From the very opening of the novel, you just know it’s going to be a gritty & provoking read. Elizabeth is in a carriage on her way to the brothel when she spots the carcass of a rabbit being ripped apart by vultures. She identifies and feels that if she does not play her cards right, she could also represent that carcass on the side of the road being picked apart by her enemies.

The aspect I found so intriguing about the relationship between Elizabeth and Gideon is the shift of control that flips as a fish out of water, from side to side, between the two. After Elizabeth slyly manages to take Gideon away from the brothel, it is made clear to readers that she must seduce him (which should be pretty easy), make him fall in love with her, and eventually marry the man.

Elizabeth has promised her late husband, that she will remarry Gideon, the notorious and handsome rogue. So, as a reader you feel this strong need to rehabilitate Gideon and position him to be the proprietor of the vast expanse of wealth and properties of the family. This mystery about his connection to the Ashton family is so interesting and you just eat up every little clue or detail that gets you closer to finding out the truth behind Gideon’s background. Gideon, himself, is sharp, strong, but very emotionally numb. He comes across as a tiger out of a cage who is devising how to proceed with his newfound freedom. Gideon must heal from past traumas that still haunt him. I thought Elizabeth, the sweet and courageous heroine, was the key to this romance. She is an epic heroine. She is beautiful, she is kind-hearted, the woman has great business sense, but most of all, she is wise. I can’t say enough about her. She is the most trusting, self-sacrificing character in the book. She lays it all on the line: her life, the life of the children in her care, and puts all of her eggs in one basket as she gives her life without restraint to Gideon Drake.

This is a great read. The villains are lurking and there is much suspense about who is behind the murder attempts on Elizabeth’s life. One by one, both Elizabeth and Gideon defeat their enemies. Perhaps the greatest conquest is their defeat of fear, which could have crippled their love. Both the H/h are gloriously successful in their quest for a love that is liberating. At the end, Gideon said that he felt like he cheated life (in reference to the miserable trajectory his life was on before Elizabeth), as he told his friend, “we could have it all and don’t have to live in the shadow of our past.”

I really liked the narrator, Fiona Underwood, I think she did a great job! I have to say that even though I liked this book, I'm not in a hurry to read the remaining books. I think it's hard to wrap my head about the forced bondage....I think I will have to be in the right mood to continue with the series....

Not Horrible, Just Not Great

I give the author here some credit for at least attempting to create a romance story that is somewhat different. I've read many where the heroine in the book is a prostitute, but haven't read many where the hero is a prostitute. So, the story, with that little twist, started out very promising.

Unfortunately, the rest of the book did not live up to the promise. The book was a bit boring. The plot was really slow, and I found myself skimming quite a bit. The sex scenes were really long and drawn out, and just not very sexy. At least not for me. There was supposedly a plot twist at the end, but instead of making the book better, it was really unnecessary and confusing. Like it was only thrown in there because the author wanted some kind of a plot twist. I get that, but the plot twist has to make sense within the story, and turn the story around or make the characters see something they hadn't before. This plot twist did none of that. Like I said, it was unnecessary.

I’m enjoying the series.

Righting wrongs at the end of life sends Elizabeth on a journey in her deceased husband’s stead.
Gideon is hardened in heart and soul, Elizabeth needs to pry him from Lady Lavenders hands and hope he takes his place in the world he belongs.
Not easy with a Rake.

Better than the first...still a whore!

Okay...we get it...he's a WHORE.....
This second book in the trio is WAY better than the first. Better story.... better characters....more passion.. ...WAY WORSE narration.

Gideon sounds like the count from Sesame Street 1 minute, a Russian the next, a terrible Scot in the next moment..... I mean the character's voice is all over the board and its a little distracting. The same goes with Elizabeth's voice 1 minute she has a lisp, the next minute she's really meek and mild and then the next minute she sounds like she's got a cockney accent .....its really bad.

Good news is the story is better and more thought out. The characters from book one are brought in at the end which is always a plus (but was a little forced).

I enjoyed this book much more than the first and was drawn into the story immediately.

Mmmmm & WOW - IT WAS JUST SOOO FINGER LICKING GOOD

I loved, loved, loved this latest awesome offering from LB whose Seduction series tells the unwilling servitude that Lady Lavender's captive male prostitutes endure at her hands during Victorian England and the lengths they go to in order to break free from her greedy grasp.

Elizabeth is a Lady with a big heart, and an Heiress, and she's on a mission - to rescue Gideon, a handsome charismatic brute and Scottish rogue from his gilded cage at Lavender Hills where he has been 'used' and abused for years but unfortunately this has made him a bitter tortured soul whose memories of his life before only adds to his lonliness. Elizabeth's got the perfect plan and, in her mind, it's so simple - get him home, seduce him, tell him a few 'part truths' then marry him....... but alas nothing quite goes according to plan and the question is will love be enough to save them both?

It was such a tender, touching story that had many plot twists, surprises and "well I didn't see that coming" moments that I was just hooked from the start and became an all too willing bystander as the riveting mysteries were revealed petal by delicious petal. Then, as it slowly unfolds it becomes a passionate, sexy, sensuous, romantic, gritty, funny and gripping account of 2 people's hopes, dreams and desires as their fight against all the odds (and some ruthless sinister characters) finally leads them to trust and to love again.

Worth a credit? It definitely would have been but because it falls under my $10 rule I just bought it but I can't believe you can get such an entertaining and enjoyable listen that lasts for over 10.5 hours at the giveaway price of $9.79 so thank you Audible - and, of course, the gifted imagination of Lori Brighton.

weird mishaps.

i'm not sure how it happened but there were a couple mix ups on years, e.g. the book was written "fourteen years" yet the audio said "ten years" when referring to Gideon's years of whoredom. then at another point it said "thirteen years"?

other then that, it was good!