rainelle_barrett's review
1.0
I can not get pass the dialogue of flamboyant words. I’m reading the story and it’s giving me a headache. If the writer stick to simple words, this will make the book easier to read. For instance, the scene between Finn and Victoria in the offing at the ball. The words detailing the scene is utterly useless. Stick to the simplicity of the story and you will gain a bigger audience. I voluntary reviewed this ARC after receiving a free gifted copy.
thisbookishcat's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Thanks to Booksirens for a copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What a lovely second installment into this regency-era smoldering X-Menesque romantic drama. Another solid 3.5-stars for this one.
I loved the improvement in characters in this one, their developments, their temperaments, their relatability - fantastic!
Where this one lacked a little for me is that it wasn't as fiery and passionate as the previous one - there wasn't as much thrill and drama in this installment. That, however, is not a bad thing in and of itself because it very much reflects the characters at the center of this installment, and is setting up a world that I am more than happy to continue exploring.
I would definitely recommend continuing on with this series, or even starting it if you haven't already.
What a lovely second installment into this regency-era smoldering X-Menesque romantic drama. Another solid 3.5-stars for this one.
I loved the improvement in characters in this one, their developments, their temperaments, their relatability - fantastic!
Where this one lacked a little for me is that it wasn't as fiery and passionate as the previous one - there wasn't as much thrill and drama in this installment. That, however, is not a bad thing in and of itself because it very much reflects the characters at the center of this installment, and is setting up a world that I am more than happy to continue exploring.
I would definitely recommend continuing on with this series, or even starting it if you haven't already.
freemajo's review
3.0
"The Rake is Taken" is a paranormal historical romance, which I found to be an intriguing novelty.
TRIT's heroine, Lady Victoria Hamilton can cause retrograde amnesia with her touch and also blocks supernatural powers in others. Finn Alexander is a super hot bad boy pseudo-lord who all the ladies want to bang but not marry because he's illegitimate. Oh, also he reads minds, but the ladies don't know that. Anyway, he keeps dreaming about Lady Victoria and wonders what it means, so he tracks her down, discovers her powers, and takes her to his brother's own X-Mansion.
These people have all been retrieved or rescued from their own situations and brought to the safety and comfort of the X-Mansion, but almost all of them stay on as servants with supernatural powers like telekinesis and whatnot. But for some reason, Finn is not a servant? Even though he was literally plucked from a gutter?
It seems wrong that Julian and his wife, Piper would be like, "Oh hey, you have supernatural powers, please come chop firewood and clean my spoons for the rest of your life" rather than treating these people as equals or improving their station in life.
Moving on, there's this weird emphasis on this document called "The Chronology" which seems to just be a long list of when different superpowers pop up and where, and some bad guy is supposedly going to come get it, but then there actually aren't any bad guys in the book? Now that I am trying to articulate the plot, I realize how little conflict there actually was.
The writing is occasionally unintentionally humorous. We get treated to a lot of descriptions of people's eyes:
"Victoria's eyes were the color of a leaf frozen in ice when they met his."
"her eyes glowing as fiercely as the emeralds in Victoria's favorite broach."
"She pivoted to face him, her eyes highlighted in the sunlight, a mix falling somewhere between the color of spring soil and autumn leaves."
"She laughed softly, her eyes glowing the color of the grass beneath their feet."
"Marianne regarded him through eyes the color of fresh cow dung."
Overall, it's obvious that the author is incredibly invested in the characters and thinks of them as real people, but the situations and overall plot of the story are less embellished and a little confusing.
I received a free copy through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
TRIT's heroine, Lady Victoria Hamilton can cause retrograde amnesia with her touch and also blocks supernatural powers in others. Finn Alexander is a super hot bad boy pseudo-lord who all the ladies want to bang but not marry because he's illegitimate. Oh, also he reads minds, but the ladies don't know that. Anyway, he keeps dreaming about Lady Victoria and wonders what it means, so he tracks her down, discovers her powers, and takes her to his brother's own X-Mansion.
These people have all been retrieved or rescued from their own situations and brought to the safety and comfort of the X-Mansion, but almost all of them stay on as servants with supernatural powers like telekinesis and whatnot. But for some reason, Finn is not a servant? Even though he was literally plucked from a gutter?
It seems wrong that Julian and his wife, Piper would be like, "Oh hey, you have supernatural powers, please come chop firewood and clean my spoons for the rest of your life" rather than treating these people as equals or improving their station in life.
Moving on, there's this weird emphasis on this document called "The Chronology" which seems to just be a long list of when different superpowers pop up and where, and some bad guy is supposedly going to come get it, but then there actually aren't any bad guys in the book? Now that I am trying to articulate the plot, I realize how little conflict there actually was.
The writing is occasionally unintentionally humorous. We get treated to a lot of descriptions of people's eyes:
"Victoria's eyes were the color of a leaf frozen in ice when they met his."
"her eyes glowing as fiercely as the emeralds in Victoria's favorite broach."
"She pivoted to face him, her eyes highlighted in the sunlight, a mix falling somewhere between the color of spring soil and autumn leaves."
"She laughed softly, her eyes glowing the color of the grass beneath their feet."
"Marianne regarded him through eyes the color of fresh cow dung."
Overall, it's obvious that the author is incredibly invested in the characters and thinks of them as real people, but the situations and overall plot of the story are less embellished and a little confusing.
I received a free copy through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
emmelnie's review
4.0
The Rake Is Taken continues Sumner’s strong Regency paranormal series by focusing on two people who’ve struggled with their talents. Finn suffers because he can read any mind around his—except for Victoria. She struggles because her ability to wipe anyone’s recent memories offers perilous possibilities that she knows she needs to avoid. For Finn, Victoria offers a respite, as she negates his talent and gives him rare moments of silence in a cacophonous world. For Victoria, she needs to know that she isn’t alone in her talents, and that Finn can introduce her to others who have to deal with extraordinary abilities every day.
I liked both Finn and Victoria. Finn was a strong secondary character in The Lady is Trouble, where his talents made him mischievous and a bit chaotic. In The Rake is Taken, Finn is older and more jaded, struggling with the challenges reading minds brings. I liked the way Victoria was his counterbalance, the yin to his yang in more ways than one. They also have to address their class differences and social status, and Victoria has to learn to challenge the status quo she is being forced into.
There are welcome sightings of characters from the first book, but they in no way overshadow the growth of Finn and Victoria’s relationship. The League of Lords series has been excellent so far, and how wonderful that The Rake Is Taken avoids the dreaded sophomore slump!
I liked both Finn and Victoria. Finn was a strong secondary character in The Lady is Trouble, where his talents made him mischievous and a bit chaotic. In The Rake is Taken, Finn is older and more jaded, struggling with the challenges reading minds brings. I liked the way Victoria was his counterbalance, the yin to his yang in more ways than one. They also have to address their class differences and social status, and Victoria has to learn to challenge the status quo she is being forced into.
There are welcome sightings of characters from the first book, but they in no way overshadow the growth of Finn and Victoria’s relationship. The League of Lords series has been excellent so far, and how wonderful that The Rake Is Taken avoids the dreaded sophomore slump!
onebookmore's review
4.0
The Rake is Taken is the second book in the League of Lords series, and I was so excited to see the story focuses on Finn, who was first introduced in The Lady is Trouble. Finn Alexander, also called The Blue Bastard, is handsome, charismatic, and well-known as a rake who never stays with one woman for long. Known as The Blue Bastard because of his striking eye color and his unsavory heritage, Finn is the focus of many scandals in society. Finn is not one to follow the rules. Of course, Finn isn’t exactly what he seems, and he has many secrets that he keeps from others. In addition to his origins, one of these secrets involves his paranormal gifts.
Haunted by the dreams of Lady Victoria and wanting to learn more about her, Finn begins to trail her. He learns that, because of the pressure of her selfish family, Victoria has agreed to enter into an arranged marriage. Acting out in a fit of protest, Victoria is continually rescued by Finn, and when she finds out who he is, she is equally afraid and intrigued.
Though she is loyal and duty-bound, Victoria’s family does not treat her well. They basically see her as a means to the end of their financial troubles. However, Finn sees that she has a gift, and he convinces her to go to his brother’s estate, where they protect and train people with paranormal abilities. Finn is certain they can help Victoria to control and better use her gifts, which she has kept hidden for years.
Victoria also has strange dreams that connect to Finn’s, and as the couple tries to make sense of these dreams, they grow closer. The chemistry between Finn and Tori is fantastic! They are so drawn to each other, and though they try to resist, it is so difficult. They both know they can’t be together, but that doesn’t stop their feelings from growing. I love how this pair sees each other for who they really are. They aren’t fooled by the facades, and instead, look deeper and learn the truth of each other. They are both strong-willed and passionate people, and their love story is wonderful.
I also like the paranormal elements in the story. People have many different paranormal abilities, and Finn and Tori’s abilities are fascinating. Tori can steal bits of time, and Finn can read minds. Tori also has another surprising ability that intrigues and alarms Finn. Other people’s paranormal gifts include the power to heal, to start fires, to alter one’s mind, to see auras, and more. This is such a unique aspect of the story and not one I usually see in paranormal, historical romance.
Like the first book, the characters in this book are well-developed and interesting. I liked being able to see some of my favorite from The Lady is Trouble in this book. However, if you didn’t read the first book, you can still read this one. Reading the first book will provide context, especially in regard to the characters, but it is easy enough to follow on its own. The story is filled with suspense, secrets, lies, and a ton of sexual tension and is a great addition to the League of Lords series. Thanks so much to Tracy Sumner for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Haunted by the dreams of Lady Victoria and wanting to learn more about her, Finn begins to trail her. He learns that, because of the pressure of her selfish family, Victoria has agreed to enter into an arranged marriage. Acting out in a fit of protest, Victoria is continually rescued by Finn, and when she finds out who he is, she is equally afraid and intrigued.
Though she is loyal and duty-bound, Victoria’s family does not treat her well. They basically see her as a means to the end of their financial troubles. However, Finn sees that she has a gift, and he convinces her to go to his brother’s estate, where they protect and train people with paranormal abilities. Finn is certain they can help Victoria to control and better use her gifts, which she has kept hidden for years.
Victoria also has strange dreams that connect to Finn’s, and as the couple tries to make sense of these dreams, they grow closer. The chemistry between Finn and Tori is fantastic! They are so drawn to each other, and though they try to resist, it is so difficult. They both know they can’t be together, but that doesn’t stop their feelings from growing. I love how this pair sees each other for who they really are. They aren’t fooled by the facades, and instead, look deeper and learn the truth of each other. They are both strong-willed and passionate people, and their love story is wonderful.
I also like the paranormal elements in the story. People have many different paranormal abilities, and Finn and Tori’s abilities are fascinating. Tori can steal bits of time, and Finn can read minds. Tori also has another surprising ability that intrigues and alarms Finn. Other people’s paranormal gifts include the power to heal, to start fires, to alter one’s mind, to see auras, and more. This is such a unique aspect of the story and not one I usually see in paranormal, historical romance.
Like the first book, the characters in this book are well-developed and interesting. I liked being able to see some of my favorite from The Lady is Trouble in this book. However, if you didn’t read the first book, you can still read this one. Reading the first book will provide context, especially in regard to the characters, but it is easy enough to follow on its own. The story is filled with suspense, secrets, lies, and a ton of sexual tension and is a great addition to the League of Lords series. Thanks so much to Tracy Sumner for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
bookishforlife2's review
3.0
This book was a better than the first one in the series, but still had a few writing flaws. This can be read as a standalone, but we meet Finn in book one.
This is Finn and Victoria’s story. The league continues to develop but like in book one, the gifts/powers aren’t that “well” talked about.
I don’t know I’ll continue with this series, as this isn’t my usual genre-mix.
This is Finn and Victoria’s story. The league continues to develop but like in book one, the gifts/powers aren’t that “well” talked about.
I don’t know I’ll continue with this series, as this isn’t my usual genre-mix.
rainnbooks's review
4.0
Many Thanks to Net Galley, BookBuzz.net and Tracy Sumner for the chance to read and review this book.
A historical romance with psychic paranormal elements, The Rake is Taken is book #2 in the League of Lords series by Tracy Sumner but it can be read as a stand-alone as each book, I believe, has a different couple in focus. Finn Alexander, called the Blue Bastard by the ton, coz of his extraordinary eyes, has always been able to read minds of the people surrounding him. The gift or curse as the case maybe has left him always a touch distant from the countless relationships he’s engaged in always affecting an indifferent nonchalance among the crowd. When he becomes haunted by dreams that involve Lady Victoria Hamilton, Finn makes sure that lady in question is invited to Harbingdon estate where he seeks the help of his brother of heart Julian and his wife, Poppy to understand Victoria’s psychic abilities. ‘Coz Victoria is no ordinary girl herself, with the ability to steal pockets of time from anyone whom she touches, Victoria has never known love or care from her family except from her brother and her maid.
It is the psychic parts of the story with the members of the League that makes this book extremely fascinating and the chemistry between Finn and Tory is undeniably scorching hot. The author writes a very passionate and alluring story with two people who are quite different and begins collaborating as friends but the sexual tension between them is hard to ignore. Each and every character in the story was brilliant and hopefully the Duke of Ashcroft has a separate story that will follow in the series. I would have loved much more action with the dreams and the link that connects Finn and Tori as that part of the story seemed a bit rushed.
There’s enough drama to keep the story going as both of them denies their love for various reasons but the resolving of issues and making up of minds was entertainment at best.
Lovely!
A historical romance with psychic paranormal elements, The Rake is Taken is book #2 in the League of Lords series by Tracy Sumner but it can be read as a stand-alone as each book, I believe, has a different couple in focus. Finn Alexander, called the Blue Bastard by the ton, coz of his extraordinary eyes, has always been able to read minds of the people surrounding him. The gift or curse as the case maybe has left him always a touch distant from the countless relationships he’s engaged in always affecting an indifferent nonchalance among the crowd. When he becomes haunted by dreams that involve Lady Victoria Hamilton, Finn makes sure that lady in question is invited to Harbingdon estate where he seeks the help of his brother of heart Julian and his wife, Poppy to understand Victoria’s psychic abilities. ‘Coz Victoria is no ordinary girl herself, with the ability to steal pockets of time from anyone whom she touches, Victoria has never known love or care from her family except from her brother and her maid.
It is the psychic parts of the story with the members of the League that makes this book extremely fascinating and the chemistry between Finn and Tory is undeniably scorching hot. The author writes a very passionate and alluring story with two people who are quite different and begins collaborating as friends but the sexual tension between them is hard to ignore. Each and every character in the story was brilliant and hopefully the Duke of Ashcroft has a separate story that will follow in the series. I would have loved much more action with the dreams and the link that connects Finn and Tori as that part of the story seemed a bit rushed.
There’s enough drama to keep the story going as both of them denies their love for various reasons but the resolving of issues and making up of minds was entertainment at best.
Lovely!
mibookobsession's review
4.0
Finn Alexander, bastard brother of Viscount Julian, leader of the League, is known around London as a rake. With his gift of mind reading, it's hard to hold a lasting relationship when he knows every thought in the woman's mind. But around Victoria, the voices go silent. She seems to be a block for everyone's powers around their community of magical misfits. And Finn is loving it, and falling in love with her. But is it just her ability to make the voices disappear that is so alluring or the mysterious lady herself?
I loved this continuation of the league's story. Finn was one of my favorite characters in the first book so I was excited to learn more about his life and abilities. Now on to the next book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved this continuation of the league's story. Finn was one of my favorite characters in the first book so I was excited to learn more about his life and abilities. Now on to the next book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.