Frankie's Reviews > Wild, Wild Rake

Well, what can I say about this marvellous book, that hasn’t been said already? It’s a beautifully intense and emotional story with two complex and sensitive characters.
This is actually the first I have read by Janna Macgregor, I don’t know how her books have gone under my radar for as long as they have done, I love her emotional and enlightening writing which is richly textured and engaging, I will certainly be reading more from this fine author,
Devan wasn’t at all how I thought he would be, I know the book is all about a; Wild, Wild Rake, but to actually have a vicar in that role is a new one on me, he certainly makes you stop and go; ‘Oh, my!‘ But not so much in the ‘oh, my goodness he is soooo sexy‘ which he is, but more in an ‘aww, he is melting my heart with his tenderness‘. Devan being the brother of Avalon’s son’s guardian, he has come in to keep an eye on the young widow. There was a moment when I saw him as a bit of a bad ‘un, I thought there was something not very nice about him, but that soon melted away to reveal that he is a genuinely good man who unfortunately has a very dark reputation for a vicar. Yes, he may now be a man of the cloth but he has a notorious reputation as a rake, as a rogue and Avalon wants nothing to do with him, after ridding herself of one foul, arrogant man of a husband she doesn’t want to become entangled with another.
Poor, Devan he doesn’t like the idea of spying on and interfering in this woman’s life, but he can’t deny that he is inexplicably drawn to her; like a moth to a flame. He senses there is something beneath her icy and proud exterior and it is her caring and kind inner self that he so desperately wants to know, but can he really chisel his way through the cemented wall she has built around herself to guard herself against men like him?
Avalon is a woman after my own heart, she wants to be independent, she wants the ability to care for herself and her son without outside interference. She wants to be able to provide for herself and not having to rely on others, but more than that she really wants to help those who are less fortunate or those who have fallen on hard times and that to me speaks of such a commendable, caring, kind and passionate woman. She is wonderful if guarded character, I also felt that in her thirst to be free and to be rid of her own personal demons, she has built this wall around herself that is almost impenetrable, she has locked off her heart, she hates to think of being helpless and she hates others coming in and taking everything she has away from her. At times I really wanted to weep for her, plus shout at her to give love a go. She is such a broken and lonely woman, she hasn’t had the best start in life, which is why she looks on Devan as the enemy she wants to hold him back.
Overall, this is a great second chance love story, full of pent up emotion, that will take the reader on a roller-coaster ride from page one right to the finale. Thoroughly entertaining and highly recommended!