If You Give a Rake a Ruby

OK story but too long

If You Give A Rake A Ruby is the second installment in the Jewels of the Ton series. I have grown to greatly admire this author and the beautifully written stories she creates. This new series has surprised me, and I have to say that I could hardly wait to get my hands on this one. I was lucky enough to get a copy of this one from my local library. After reading the first one, I could wait to read Fallon's story. I have always had a soft spot for Fallon. At first she appears to be proud and aloof, but there is so much I enjoyed about her. The story is bit of a spy story, and it got its claws in me from the beginning.Fallon, is one the two jewels of the Ton left, after her friend Juliette's marriage, she feels a bit envious of her happiness. Fallon has a murky past, a past that is about to catch up with her. When Warrick comes to her and confronts her, and threatens that unless she works with him, he will reveal who she really is. Fallon is shocked that she is being blackmailed, and even more surprised that Warrick was able to dig into her past as well informed as he apparently is. Warrick works for the Foreign Office as a spy, and must find the man responsible for threatening the lives of his fellow spies. He is desperate to get to the truth and destroy the danger to himself and others he has long served with. When he meets Fallon, he is astounded by her beauty and willfulness. In the beginning, his plan is to use her as bait, to get to the bottom of this mystery. But when he starts to fall in love with Fallon, his motives change, to protecting her. However her father is after them both, and only when Fallon will accept and trust in Warrick's love, will they be able to defeat those that threaten them and those that they love. Overall I fell in love with this latest installment of the Jewels of the Ton!! This story is about the second Jewel, Fallon, who tends to wrap around your heart from the beginning. Warrick is a bit of a rascal, which I loved about him. He has led a dangerous life, but he has a soft spot for Fallon. At first he has a bit of a rough edge, however we see the protective side of him. What I would give to have a man like him at my side, I wouldn't fear anything. Fallon is strong willed and a fighter, but she does struggle with a bit of self doubt. As you learn where she truly comes from, you see where she has gotten her strength. There is such a passionate connection between Fallon and Warrick, this story tends to put you through a emotional ringer, but I will warn you it has a bit of a small cliffhanger, that really surprised me, and I wanted to scream "NOOOO" It can't be over yet!!! But it was, and yet I felt fully satisfied by the end of reading it. A Tale full of adventure, mystery and drama that is bound to get you bouncing off the walls in anxiety. WELL DONE!!

2.5 stars rounded up. This was significantly weaker than the first book in the series. The main characters were very slow to catch onto things, and always seemed to be making poor decisions, lol. I wanted to like them more than I did, and because the story wasn't impressing me that much it seemed to drag on and on. The heroine's nearly *defining* characteristic was just her obstinacy, which isn't terribly endearing to me, and the hero was cocky and domineering past a likable point for me as well. (They're not inherently awful qualities, but there's definitely a limit, and at some point you're just kind of an ass). I didn't all the way buy the development of their love either. It was one of those where I was feeling like 'I do believe they're growing on each other and developing some fondness- op, no, apparently they're deeply in love!?' And there were some definite plot holes. I still consider Galen a good writer, I just think this one missed the mark.

Here comes the second book of the Jewels of the Ton series by Shana Galen and it's time for Fallon's happy ever after.

In the previous book, "When You Give a Duke a Diamond" and the start to this series, she was introduced as the Marchioness of Mystery.

Now if you've read that book, you know that they are the two of the Three Diamonds (Lily being the third), courtesans of the demimonde. In case you haven't had a chance to read the first one, let me just warn you: this series is written to be read in order because of the tread of mystery that is woven throughout all three, and in order to understand and follow that tread, I think you'll enjoy it much more if you read them in the order they were written.

As far as the story plot goes, Ms. Galen does this with such finesse that no matter how much ahead of the story I think I might be, in the end I am left surprised and frankly thrilled that I couldn't figure stuff out until she was ready to reveal it to me. I just love it when authors are too clever for me! It makes for a thrilling read! Makes you feel the author appreciates you.

As much as this story was plot driven, I felt that she did an amazing job with characterizing our hero and heroine.

Fallon got her moniker for being a mystery to all, and no one really knew where she came from. Was she, as the rumor had it, a foreign princess?

Our hero Warrick Fitzhugh, who is Queen's spy, had no problem with using seduction to try and unveil all of her secrets, and I had a front row seat for that journey.

Their story was fraught with danger, mystery, romance and so much running around it made my head spin! Another great thing this author does well. By adding a good amount of action to her stories, she paces her books so well you never realize the end is quickly approaching...nor do you want the book to end.

I also liked the chemistry and romance between Warrick and Fallon. Both were very relatable and likable and both had vulnerabilities that made them interesting separately as much as a couple. Their adventure became mine as well and I now feel invested not only in their story, but in all the Jewels!

"If You Give a Rake a Ruby" has everything a great romance should have; storyline that will hook you with its pace and action; strong, fleshed out three dimensional characters; mystery that you'll find interesting, entertaining and not predictable; and best of all, sensual and steamy romance.

This is not my first time reading this author and the reason for coming back to her is very simple. I find Shana Galen's writing unique and unconventional, creative and refreshing; and never, EVER boring. She is my Calgon, and she can `take me away' any time of day or night!

My Five Quills are enthusiastically given to this nail biter and now the anticipation for Lily's story officially starts!

*Book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
*Scorching HOT!

Melanie Friedman for RCJR eZine

I thought I loved When you give a Duke a Diamond, but If you GIve a Rake a Ruby took me to a place beyond love. Shana Galen has done it again.

As the Marchioness of Mystery, Fallon is the Diamond that loves her name in the paper, and has many selects in her past that not even the other Diamond know about. Warrick Fitzhugh is a spy and one of the Diamonds in the Rough, when someone is out to kill him, he will stop at nothing to find who wants him dead, evan if this means blackmailing Fallon. Being a great spy Warrick is good and finding out information that was meant to stay hidden. When he finds out who Fallon was before she became the Marchioness of Mystery, he uses her and her past to help save is life. Along this road Fallon and Warrick but heads left and right and what started as blackmail turns into something more.

Fallon never expected anyone to find out about her past, but when it is in danger of being exposed she has no chose but to help Warrick. There is danger around every corner and Fallon is forced to stay at Fitzhugh’s townhouse while they continue there search. Spending so much time in a house with the charming Fitzhugh will have a Lady doing things she swore she would never do again. When faced with danger and finding true love with someone who she can never have, will Fallon push open her heart or keep it protected from the heartache she knows will come.

Fallon is definitely more my type of Lady than Juliette was, don’t get me wrong I loved her story too but Fallon, is hot and seductive and a badass. Who doesn’t love a woman that can pick locks and than have a passionate sex sense. Warrick may not be handsome, but he gas a gentle heart and his issues show us a side of him that we wouldn’t see if he could hind it. I have fallen in love with Shana Galens writing and I can not wait for Lily’s story to be told.

If you love Historical Romances, with some slow and passionate sex, with a little bit of danger than you must pick up this book and give it a go. Be warned you will be hooked.

I received this book from the publisher though netgalley for my honest review.

I am in a dilemma. See, I am not sure if I can rate this book a two or a three. I initially bought this book when I read the excerpt on Shana Galen’s site and was immediately captivated by the plot. Unfortunately, I was a little bit disappointed about the whole plot.

The story starts off with Warrick Fitzhugh, an ex-spy, who is looking for a traitor out to get the Diamonds in the Rough, an elite spy team during the Napoleon wars, which he is a member of. His search for the traitor leads him to Maggie, aka Fallon, The Marchioness of Mystery, a courtesan and hailed as one of the Three Diamonds of the demimonde. He sneaks into her room and when he meets her there, sparks immediately fly between them. Fallon is blackmailed into assisting in finding the traitor in exchange for keeping her real identity a secret. Both go into spy mode and dig into the underbelly to smoke out the killer. It is finally revealed that the assassin hired to kill Warrick is Fallon’s father who she thought she killed when she was 15. In the end, both of them defeat Joseph Bayley (Fallon’s father) however it is still unknown who the traitor is.

Initially, I enjoyed the book a lot. I loved the mystery and the action woven into the whole story and I enjoyed the chemistry between the two protagonists. Unfortunately, I also have to say that I was puzzled by Warrick’s true purpose in asking for Fallon’s help. It seemed like Galen wrote in that Warrick just wanted Fallon with him as bait to use against Joseph Bayley! That doesn’t sound like a hero to me! Not only that but he dragged Fallon around Seven Dials in the dead of the night for no apparent reason at all. I felt that those excursions were only written in to add contact between the two characters and Fallon’s role did not really serve a significant purpose. I also thought that Warrick was the real reason why Fallon was in danger in the first place! In fact, if he didn’t drag her around with him, she would have been safe and her father would have not abducted her. Because of this, I felt that that Warrick was not a true gentleman at all.

I did give Galen points in writing in each of the character’s back story; most especially Warricks PTSD. I loved reading about the flashbacks which made me understand Warrick. I also enjoyed the steamy scenes between the two. All scenes were nicely written and did not feel tawdry at all.

I also thought the end a bit too abrupt and too convenient. It was also stated by Lady Sinclair (the lady who rescued Fallon from the streets) that Warrick’s brother would not accept Fallon and was very rigid in her views and yet, she easily accepted her into the family! I would not want there to be another villain in the story but please, I thought she would have been to aristocratic to accept a courtesan to the family! Warrick’s father, accepting him was also too convenient. In fact, they had a prior encounter before the ball and he had already given Warrick his ultimatum that he would not accept a courtesan into the family and then he turned a full 360 degrees and went ahead and accepted Fallon with open arms. What? *scratches head*

Another thing that bothered me was right after Warrick spoke with his father, he avoided Fallon and did not let her know that their plans to attend the ball together were still on. He WAS thinking about marrying the girl his family had arranged for him and DID NOT plan on taking Fallon with him (despite him proclaiming that he loved her and will take her to meet his parents) until the last possible minute! In Fallon’s defense, she did go without Warrick as a guest of Lady Sinclair where she found Warrick dancing in the arms of another woman! And to top it off, she immediately forgave him just like that! *sigh*

The end also gives us a hint as to the third installment of the series would be about. We also see quite a few scenes of Lily in this book and I have a rough idea as to what she is.

All in all, it is a fun read but not worth purchasing a book for. I may or may not read the next book in the series.

Reviewed by: RobinBook provided by: NetGalleyReview originally posted at Romancing the BookOnce again I found myself choosing a book by a favorite author. I think you find out that there are those times when you want or you know you just want some comfort from a familiar author to bring you out of a funk. Shana Galen is one of those authors for me. I have so enjoyed many of her books. It seems like forever since I read the first one in this series: Jewels of the Ton, When You Give a Duke a Diamond. I liked it so much I anticipated the long wait for the next one, If You Give a Rake a Ruby. Between you and me I was not disappointed. It was the type of book that you can’t put down. I even took it to the kitchen as I prepared dinner.One of the things I enjoy most about this series is that the women are everyday women. They have flaws, they aren’t perfect, and they come with baggage of a sort so to speak. Yet despite all of that they get beyond that the past and find that no matter what happened before you can still find love. You can still move on to find your own happiness. People and life have a way of pulling you down. It is always nice when there is a happy ever after.Fallon has a vulnerability that stems from her past making it hard for her to think that she could ever be loved. Even with the glamorous life she is living now with the help of her very good friends Juliette and Lily. Not to leave out her surrogate parents as I like to call them who have helped out allot. Then we have the handsome ‘Rake’ who really isn’t a rake at all Warrick. He comes with baggage of his own because he is haunted by the deaths of people in past battles. He has nightmares but Fallon tends to be able to offer him the comfort that he so desperately needs. Together they find adventure and romance as they try to solve a mystery which ends up bringing out the hidden past for Fallon.Ms. Galen takes us into the dark side of London as we find violent crime lords, traitors, murder and yet in the middle of all this she brings us a hot and steamy romance. I enjoyed the fast paced storyline that keeps your attention as your travel around the seedier sides of London and the fanciful ball of the ton. I found it to be a rather addicting story from start to finish and was kept in suspense right up to the end. I now have to wait for Lily’s story. Even though this is a book from a series, it can stand alone which I like. As I wait for the next in the series you just might want to pick up this book and fall in love with a rake that gets a ruby.

Plot: ASide Characters: AResolution: B+Sex: BOverall: A-This book projected raw and only too real emotions on me. It made my stomach churn, my heart flutter, and my mind race (all metaphorically of course). Galen captured every forceful emotion and deftly transcribed them onto the pages of If You Give a Rake.Fallon is a stunning heroine. She has a down and dirty past and is a model of achievement in life, no matter her status as a “courtesan.” As is also true of the previous book in this series, it is refreshing to see a heroine who not only envisions her own power and control over her life, but enacts it. Fallon encapsulated the fears and the wariness of many women who have been hurt by love: the inability to trust and believe in love. Seeing Fallon overcome her fears (albeit with the help of a good shove from Lady Sin) and put herself out there was a powerful message.Warrick is smoking hot. In real life maybe he would be that interesting form of ugly hot. Whatever it is, his whole package is sinfully attractive.Overall the story was just the right length. Galen was able to give the reader a true attachment to her characters, and develop a plot that was always interesting and never overbearing (a VERY difficult task in today’s verbose times). I truly enjoyed the sparkling wit and chemistry between these characters, as well as the gritty decisions they were forced with.Galen set up the next book well with Lily, but really I would rather have resolved this issue in this book, rather than have the same theme run across all three… How often in real life does a murderer after spies culminate in the love matches of three very famous courtesans who are also best friends and not actually courtesans. Answer: never. But, this is fiction and Galen expertly rules this world, so I’m willing to suspend disbelief and enjoy the alternate reality.

For some reason this book didn't quite do it for me. The bad thing is is that I was looking forward to Fallon's story. I loved the first book in the series and had high hopes for this one, but I just didn't feel the relationship between the Fallon and Warrick. True to form for Ms. Galen there was a great deal of danger and action that was fun to read. The romance fell flat, it just seemed as if it was rushed. One minute Warrick is blackmailing Fallon to help and then the next he's informing her they will be getting married because he loves her. The involvement of Lily in the action was a nice surprise and I'll be looking forward to reading her book. Be sure to read in order for the best understanding of why they are The Jewels of the Ton.

Warrick Fitzhugh is on a mission. He is looking for a certain man and he suspects Fallon, the Marchioness of Mystery, can lead him to this crime lord. Fallon is very reluctant to help Fitzhugh when he demands her help. The man he is looking for is from her past, a past she would rather forget. But to keep her past hidden, she agrees to help.Fitzhugh is a hard man, set on his mission. He's a bit tough on Fallon in the beginning. He only knows her as her reputation. But, of course, there is much more to Fallon. She's smart and resourceful. We get to watch Fallon confront her awful past. Fitzhugh does soften a little as he gets to know Fallon. His focus starts to not be solely fix on his mission.I'm really liking the Jewels of the Ton series. Galen gives us three women, who on the outside look like courtesans just out for some fun in Society, but are much more complex characters. The heroes too, at first, seem either too focused or too stuck up, but as you learn why they act the way they do, you find much more complicated characters. And watching their lives collide and their understandings change is very satisfying to read.ARC provided through NetGalley.

I absolutely love what Shana Galen does for historical romance. I find a lot of the genre densely written and often just carbon copies of each other with the characters' names accordingly replaced and the central conflicts modified, but her stories are always creative, amusing, and captivating to read. Last year, I reviewed and adored The Rogue Pirate's Bride and am pleased to say If You Give a Rake a Ruby is equally passionate, equally fast-paced, and equally engrossing.True to form, Galen acquaints readers with unconventional characters: Warrick Fitzhugh, the rebellious son of an earl who was disowned after choosing to go fight during the French Revolution and still is suffering mental post-war ailments, and Fallon, an exotic, exquisite courtesan with an unnameable past. Warrick works for the Queen and finds his way to Fallon's bed—literally—because he knows she has information regarding the murder of a fellow spy, and he'll go to any lengths to find out who or what is threatening the country. Upon meeting Fallon, Warrick immediately has a prevailing respect for her, which is something she receives little of from anyone else. And this respect is what shapes their relationship and forms a mutual understanding.The characters are fresh and enticing. They aren't cookie-cutter characters; they have depth, concerns, flaws, R-E-A-L emotions and hopes and fears, and that's what made me love them so much. Fallon and Warrick's dynamic is both hilarious and red-hot. They both recognize in each other, a desire to be understood, a desire to have someone to whom they can whisper all their secrets and dreams.Fallon is lovable and could be your best friend. Fiercely impulsive, dangerously cunning, and all-around awesome, she basically kicks everyone's ass in the novel. Although her vocation prevents her from being respected by high English society, Warrick has never met anyone as extraordinary as her; he trusts and regards her highly immediately:"[Fallon] shook her head. '[Leaving me to fight all by myself] is no way to treat a lady.''That's because most ladies are skittish ninnies who faint if a man utters the word damn in her presence. You should hope I don't treat you like a lady. I have no use for ladies.'"Both may be faring well today, but both have committed unthinkable crimes they don't want to relive. Fallon is at once animated and weary; she has finally escaped her past that made her the sturdy, independent woman she is, but its horrors have also made her too experienced, too jaded, and too wise to be seduced or to love. Warrick is successful, but is just trying to escape the wartime memories still haunting his mind. All in all, they both seem to have the world at their fingertips, but he's no hero and she's no damsel in distress.Fallon just may be Warrick's cure, and he, her sweet relief... but not if the rungs on the ladder of society get in the way. And don't you dare think they won't. She is a courtesan after all; she may have celebrity status and be classier than most women in the country, but in the end, her title is just a prettier word for the women of the street. Fallon and Warrick can only do so much for to see a passion like theirs to survive this brutal, high-collared English society: hold on, keep hope, and make sacrifices, even if they do risk losing everything.The plot itself moves at a thrilling pace, but romance is too abrupt. We've got "I love you"s by the first half and "I'll love you forever"s not much later—not very believable and way too hasty, like a forced romance novel. I do like the crime-ridden central conflict, but am not taken with the mystery, especially since it's open-ended. It is resolved in that the villain SPOILER ALERT—who is just this completely random, previously unmentioned man—SPOILER OVER is revealed, but it isn't settled... at least not in this story. While I do understand there will be more mention of it in the next book, I wish it had been tied up more cleanly; the book shifts back and forth between the romance and the life-or-death situation, but only fully consummates one of them.I will say, however, there are shocking revelations and dangerous bumps in the road that shape the suspense brilliantly. I have no complaints on the story itself, just on the jarringly empty conclusion. The other Diamonds—Fallon's fellow coveted friends—and Lady Sinclair—Fallon's benefactor—are delightful secondary characters. The book ends on a persisting note and with an expected, but still intriguing confession. Due to both, I'm eager to try the preceding and succeeding books in the series—When You Give a Duke a Diamond and what I assume will be Lily's story—to discover more answers, more stories, and of course, more secrets surrounding the Diamonds.Pros: Story is entertaining // VERY strong characters // Charming cast of supporting characters // Steamy, perfectly improper love scenes // Undercurrent of danger is suspenseful // Lovely French Revolution context // Well-written and easy to read // I definitely want to try the other books in the series now // Breathtaking romance and heartfelt emotionsCons: Affections are premature and difficult to believe // The ending is just ?????? /?Love: "'What are you doing?''For a courtesan, you're rather modest. Don't you dance naked at the Cyprians' balls or some such thing?'Courtesans did dance naked at some of the debauched balls held by Fashionable Impures ... but Fallon had never participated. She wasn't all that modest, either, but she didn't like the effect his touch had on her.Or perhaps she liked it too much."Verdict: Sharp, scintillating, and not even for a moment dull, Shana Galen's newest installment in the Jewels of the Ton series is not your typical bodice ripper. There are plenty of scandalous premarital rendezvouses that'll make readers blush and their skirts rise, yes—but there are also dark, deceptive emotions, dangerous peeks into organizational London crime, and two delicate, troubled, and tremendously tender characters that they'll want to take home, themselves. Sometimes the romance is a little rushed and stilted, but I love the chemistry between Fallon—the contrary heroine who's smart as a whip and won't ever let you down—and Warrick—the tragic, loyal, and passionate hero who'll have you sighing in content. Light-hearted, sentimental, and narrated in a gratifying and playful voice, If You Give a Rake a Ruby is a refreshing addition to the historical romance genre.Rating: 7 out of 10 hearts: Not perfect, but overall enjoyable.Source: Complimentary ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!).