How to Ravish a Rake

by Vicky Dreiling

  William Darcett is a younger son with a passion for traveling. He’s not one to put down roots—just the occupation for a bona fide rake. But Will’s latest plans for another journey to the Continent go awry when he discovers his meddling family wants to curb his traveling days. Will refuses to let his family interfere with his carousing and rambling, but a chance encounter with Amy in a wine cellar leads the wallflower and the rake into more trouble than they’re prepared to handle.

  This very unlikely pair comes to realize that laughter, family, and honesty are the most important ingredients for everlasting love. I hope you will enjoy the adventures of Amy and Will on their journey to discover that even the unlikeliest of couples can fall madly, deeply in love.

  My heartfelt thanks to all the readers who wrote to let me know they couldn’t wait to read HOW TO RAVISH A RAKE. I hope you will enjoy the fun and games that finally lead to Happily Ever After for Amy and Will.

  Cheers!

  From the desk of Amanda Scott

  Dear Reader,

  What happens when a freedom-loving Scotsman who’s spent much of his life on the open sea meets an enticing heiress determined to make her home with a husband who will stay put and run her Highland estates? And what happens when something that they have just witnessed endangers the plans of a ruthless and powerful man who is fiercely determined to keep the details of that event secret?

  HIGHLAND LOVER, the third title in my Scottish Knights trilogy, stars the fiercely independent Sir Jacob “Jake” Maxwell, who was a nine-year-old boy in King of Storms , the last of a six-book series beginning with Highland Princess. Lifting a fictional child from a series I wrote years ago to be a hero in a current trilogy is new for me.

  However, the three heroes of Scottish Knights are friends who met as teenage students under Bishop Traill of St. Andrews and later accepted his invitation to join a brotherhood of highly skilled knights that he (fictionally) formed to help him protect the Scottish Crown. I realized straightaway that the grown-up Jake would be the right age in 1403 and would easily fit my requirements, for several reasons:

  First, Jake has met the ruthless Duke of Albany, who was a villainous presence in Scotland for thirty-one years (in all) and is now second in line for the throne. Determined to become King of Scots, Albany habitually eliminates anyone who gets in his way. Second, Albany owes his life to Jake, a relationship that provides interesting twists in any tale. Third, Jake is captain of the Sea Wolf , a ship he owns because of Albany; and the initiating event in HIGHLAND LOVER takes place at sea. So Jake seemed to be a perfect choice. The cheeky youngster in King of Storms had stirred (and still stirs) letters from readers suggesting that an adult Jake Maxwell would make a great hero. Doubtless that also had something to do with it.

  Jake’s heroine in HIGHLAND LOVER is Lady Alyson MacGillivray of Perth, a beautiful cousin of Sir Ivor “Hawk” Mackintosh of Highland Hero . Alyson is blessed (or cursed) with a bevy of clinging relatives and the gift of Second Sight. The latter “gift” has caused as many problems for her as have her intrusive kinsmen.

  Alyson also has another problem—a husband of just a few months whom she has scarcely seen and who so far seems more interested in his noble patron’s affairs than in Alyson’s Highland estates or Alyson herself. But Alyson is trapped in this wee wrinkle, is she not? It is, after all, 1403.

  In any event, Jake sets out on a mission for the Bishop of St. Andrews, encounters a storm, and ends up plucking Alyson and an unknown lad from a ship sinking off the English coast two hundred miles from her home in Perth. The ship also happened to be carrying the young heir to Scotland’s throne and Alyson’s husband, who may or may not now be captive in England.

  So, the fun begins. I hope you enjoy HIGHLAND LOVER.

  Meantime, Suas Alba!

  www.amandascottauthor.com

  From the desk of Dee Davis

  Dear Reader,

  I’ve been a storyteller all of my life. When I was a kid, my dad and I used to sit in the mall or a restaurant and make up stories about the people walking by or sitting around us. So it really wasn’t much of a leap to find myself a novelist. But what was interesting to me was that no matter what kind of story I was telling, the characters all seemed to know each other.

  Sometimes people from other novels were simply mentioned in another of my books in passing. Sometimes they actually had cameo appearances. And several times now, a character I had created to be a secondary figure in one story has demanded his or her own book. Such was the case with Harrison Blake of DEADLY DANCE. Harrison first showed up in my Last Chance series, working as that team’s computer forensic expert. It even turned out he’d also worked for Midnight Rain’s John Brighton at his Phoenix organization, even though the company was created at the end of the book and never actually appeared on paper.

  Interestingly enough, Harrison, although never a hero, has received more mail than any of my other characters. And almost all of those letters are from readers asking when he’s going to have his day. So when A-Tac found itself in need of a technical guru, it was a no-brainer for me to bring Harrison into the fold. As he became an integral part of the team, I knew the time had come for him to have his own book.

  And of course, as his story developed, he needed help from his old friends. So enter Madison Roarke and Tracy Braxton. Madison was the heroine of the first Last Chance book, Endgame. And like Harrison, Tracy had been placed in the role of supporting character, as a world-class forensic pathologist.

  What can I say? It’s a small world, and they all know and help each other. And finally, we add to the mix our heroine, Hannah Marshall. Hannah has been at the heart of all the A-Tac books. A long-time team member, she’s always there with the answers when needed. And like Harrison, she made it more than clear to me that she deserved her own story. With her quirky way of expressing herself (eyeglasses and streaked hair) and her well-developed intellect, Hannah seemed perfect for Harrison. The two of them just didn’t know it yet.

  So I threw them together, and, as they say, the plot thickened, and DEADLY DANCE was born.

  Hopefully you’ll enjoy reading Harrison and Hannah’s story as much as I did writing it.

  For insight into both Harrison and Hannah, here are some songs I listened to while writing DEADLY DANCE:

  Riverside, by Agnes Obel

  Set Fire to the Rain, by Adele Everlong, by Foo Fighters And as always, check out www.deedavis.com for more inside info about my writing and my books.

  Happy Reading!

  From the desk of Katie Lane

  Dear Reader,

  Before I plot out the storyline and flesh out my characters, my books start with one basic idea. Or maybe I should say they start with one nagging, persistent thought that won’t leave me alone until I put it down on paper.

  Going Cowboy Crazy started with the concept of long-lost twins and what would happen if one twin took over the other twin’s life and no one—save the hot football coach—was the wiser.

  Make Mine a Bad Boy was the other side of that premise: What would happen if your twin, whom you didn’t even know you had, married your boyfriend and left you with a good-for-nothing, low-down bad boy?

  And CATCH ME A COWBOY started with a melodrama. You know the kind I’m talking about, the story of a dastardly villain taking advantage of a poor, helpless woman by tying her to the railroad tracks, or placing her on a conveyor belt headed toward the jagged blade of a saw, or evicting her from her home when she has no money to pay the rent. Of course, before any of these things happen, the hero arrives to save the day with a smile so big and bright it rivals the sun.

  For days, I couldn’t get the melodrama out of my mind. But no matter how much the idea stuck with me, I just didn’t see it fitting into my new book. My heroine had already been chosen: a favorite secondary character from the previous novels. Shirlene is a sassy, voluptuous west Texas gal who could no more play the damsel in distress than Mae West could play the Singing Nun. If someone tied Shirlene
to the train tracks, she wouldn’t scream, faint, or hold the back of her hand dramatically to her forehead. She’d just ask if she had enough time for a margarita.

  The more I thought of my sassy heroine dealing with a Snidely Whiplash–type, the more I laughed. The more I laughed, the more I wrote. And suddenly I had my melodrama. Except a funny thing happened on the way to Shirlene’s Happily Ever After: My villain and my hero got a little mixed up. And before I knew it, Shirlene had so charmed the would-be villain that he stopped the train. Shut off the saw. Paid the rent.

  And how does the hero with the bright smile fit into all of this? you might ask.

  Well, let’s just say I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. CATCH ME A COWBOY is available now.

  Enjoy, y’all!

  ALSO BY VICKY DREILING

  How to Marry a Duke

  How to Seduce a Scoundrel

  Glowing Praise for Vicky Dreiling’s Novels

  HOW TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL

  “Regency matchmaking, rakes, rogues, innocence, and scandal: oh what fun! Dreiling knows how to combine these ingredients into a delightfully delicious, wickedly witty slice of reading pleasure.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “5 stars! A fun and witty tale between two very strong characters… Vicky Dreiling has done an excellent job telling a character-driven story, but has kept it light-hearted enough to make it fun… I’m eager to read Book One now and will look forward to Book Three when it is released. I definitely recommend this one to any romance novel fan.”

  —TheRomanceReader.com

  “5 stars! This was an enchanting tale that had me grinning from ear to ear. The chemistry between Marc and Julianne was flammable and only needed a spark to set it off.”

  —SeducedbyaBook.com

  “The scenes between Julianne and Hawk are lots of fun; they have great physical chemistry and razor-sharp dialogue… I hope Ms. Dreiling’s next Regency romance features one of Julianne’s friends as I’d like to revisit these characters again. If you like historical romance, I recommend How to Seduce a Scoundrel.”

  —NightOwlRomance.com

  HOW TO MARRY A DUKE

  “In her lively debut novel, Vicky Dreiling has penned a fresh, engaging take on Regency matchmaking that brims with clever wit and repartee. I found myself smiling and laughing out loud on numerous occasions. Here’s hoping for more of this promising new author’s historical romances!”

  —Nicole Jordan, New York Times bestselling author

  “An enchanting debut, full of humor and heart!”

  —Madeline Hunter, New York Times bestselling author

  “Vicky Dreiling delivers a tale chock-full of warmth, wit, and tenderness. She’s sure to please readers everywhere!”

  —Samantha James, New York Times bestselling author

  “Sexy, fresh, and witty… A delicious read! Better than chocolate! Vicky Dreiling is an author to watch!”

  —Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author

  “A terrific romp of a read!… Vicky is a bright new voice in romance.”

  —Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author

  “Dreiling’s delightful debut combines the rituals of Regency courtship with TV’s The Bachelor… the inherent charm of the characters (especially the dowager duchess) keeps the pages flying until the surprising conclusion. Dreiling is definitely a newcomer to watch.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “Engaging… charming… the cast is solid as they bring humor, shenanigans, and deportment, but the tale belongs to the duke and his matchmaker.”

  —TheRomanticPosts.blogspot.com

  “This is a wonderful story with characters who are rich in depth… Vicky Dreiling is definitely an author I want to read more of… How to Marry a Duke is a great start to her career.”

  —TheRomanceReader.com

  “A witty, nourishing romp of a romance… impossible to put down… Dreiling mesmerizes as she brings an era to life. She fills the pages with laughter, sensuality, and charm. How to Marry a Duke is an irresistible ride readers will return to again and again.”

  —Examiner.com

  “If you are looking for an enjoyable read that is pure entertainment, then How to Marry a Duke is it.”

  —TheRomanceReadersConnection.com

  Contents

  Front Cover Image

  Welcome

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  A Preview of How to Marry a Duke

  A Preview of How to Seduce a Scoundrel

  The Dish

  Also by Vicky Dreiling

  Glowing Praise for Vicky Dreiling’s Novels

  Copyright

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2012 by Vicky Dreiling

  Excerpt from How to Marry a Duke Copyright © 2011 by Vicky Dreiling

  Excerpt from How to Seduce a Scoundrel Copyright © 2011 by Vicky Dreiling

  All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  Forever

  Hachette Book Group

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  First e-book edition: March 2012

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  ISBN 978-1-455-51028-3