About the Book:
Title: The Rebel and the Rake
Author: Emily Sullivan
Series: League of Scoundrels #2
Page Length: 352
Publication Date: Dec. 28, 2021
Publisher: Forever
Synopsis: Rafe Davies might seem like just another charismatic rake, but in reality, he is one of the crown’s most valuable agents. As relentless as he is reckless, Rafe has never met a woman he couldn’t win or a mission he couldn’t complete. And when he encounters the intriguing yet prickly Miss Sylvia Sparrow, while on assignment at a Scottish house party, he’s determined to charm her.
Though most women would be thrilled to catch the eye of a tall, dark, and dangerously handsome man, Sylvia is through with that sort of adventure. She trusted the wrong man once and paid for it dearly. The fiery bluestocking is resolved to avoid him, but a chance encounter between them reveals the normally irreverent Rafe’s unexpected depths—and a palpable attraction that’s impossible to ignore.
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My Review:
The Rebel and the Rake is the second book in the League of Scoundrels series, and it follows Sylvia Sparrow, a lady’s companion hiding a rebellious past, and Rafe Davies, a government spy. When both attend a house party, they find themselves inextricably drawn to each other, but they both have secrets. Rafe Davies is a spy tasked with finding out who is sending threatening messages to and stealing from the host, and Sylvia is being blackmailed and must steal documents from the host or risk having her scandalous, rebellious past exposed.
A huge advocate for social reform, Sylvie fights for what she believes in. She is a strong, intelligent, and forward-thinking woman, and I love that she is unbending in her convictions. She has been burned by love in the past, but she hasn’t let that defeat her. A political activist, Sylvie has very strong ideals, and her perspective opens Rafe’s eyes a bit. I love Rafe! He is charming and charismatic, and he has a great character arc. Rafe has become disenchanted with his career and questions his role as a spy dedicated to the government. He begins to wonder if he’s missed out on life, and he seems to want more for his future.
Rafe and Sylvie both live double lives, though for very different reasons. Sylvie is the only one to see past Rafe’s disguise, and Rafe knows there is more to Sylvie than meets the eye. Both are such interesting, layered characters with compelling pasts. I like how you slowly learn more about them and how their pasts helped to define their current situations. Most of all, I love their romance! They have such great chemistry, and there is this tension between them that is fantastic.
I also really liked the strong female bonds in the story. Sylvia and Georgiana are wonderful friends and fiercely supportive of each other. It seems like both have difficult pasts, yet they have always remained loyal to and protective of each other. I’m eager to learn more about Georgiana in the next book in the series. She’s such a compelling character, and I have a feeling her story will be fantastic!
There’s also an abundance of intrigue and mystery, especially regarding who is blackmailing Sylvie and who is threatening the host. Sylvie and Rafe find themselves entrenched in dangerous and potentially deadly situations, and since both are also keeping secrets, the tension is high. It was interesting to see how Sylvie’s blackmailing and the other situations at the house party connected, and I enjoyed the building suspense throughout the story.
I enjoyed this addition to the League of Scoundrels series. It has great characters, a lot of intrigue, interesting history, and a sexy romance. Plus, it can easily be read as a standalone. That being said, the first book, A Rogue to Remember, is fantastic, and I highly recommend it! Thanks so much to NetGalley, Forever, and Emily Sullivan for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance!!
- The intrigue.
Favorite Lines:
I have found that those who appear to be made of stone often have the softest edges.
If you told me to go to hell, I’d do it just to please you.
Recommendations:
Want to learn more about the League of Scoundrels series? Check out my review of the first book!
I like the sound of this one, Julie. I like all the themes and a romance too. Nice review.
I keep getting stuck on the names Rafe and Sylvie. I feel like I’ve read a historical romance with those exact names but I have no idea from where 😂 This sounds like a fun romance though and I’ll be adding it (and the first book) to my list. Great review, Julie!
Haha – All the names blend after a while. I hope you enjoy these when you read them! 🙂