The Rake by L.J. Shen: With all of her close friends having settled down with doting husbands and cute little chubby babies, 
Emmabelle can’t help but want that same feeling of belonging and family, well what she really wants is to have a baby without the drama of getting married or having to deal with a man. Which is how she finds herself making a deliciously scandalous deal with the rakishly handsome Devon Whitehall. After all who better to have a baby with than the man that wants absolutely nothing to do with marriage? It also doesn’t hurt that they have flaming hot chemistry and for some reason kind of just click.
“If you truly don’t want to play by the mortals’ rules, tie your destiny to mine.”
If there was one thing that Devon Whitehall was determined to do it was to stick it to his ever controlling father so much so that he left his lush loyal life in London to become a self-made millionaire playboy in Boston without so much as looking back. And what better way to add to this than to knock up Bostons mistress of mayhem to insure that no one from his old life would want to ever think of marrying him? However the one thing Devon did not factor in was having such an incredible pull to the sharp-tongued Sweven, but with pressure from back home to secure the family fortune and his newly found heart pulling in the opposite direction will Devon finally find that sense of belonging that even he didn’t know he craved so much?
“He had that same untouchable quality that made you want to burn like a meteor, which would inevitably, reduce you to nothing but cinders. He was everything a woman wanted, wrapped into one godlike package.”
The Rake was pure and utter emotional perfection, Shen has once again drawn us into the lavish world of the Boston Belles and let me tell you this book will knock you right in the gut! There is just something so addictive about her books and this is definitely the case when it comes to Devon and Belle, their story was so incredibly addictive so much so I just could not put this book down until the wee hours of the morning! Pulled together by the same heart breaking pain of wanting to be loved but not wanting to look weak and get broken, Devon and Belle had an incredible connection that could not be denied even by their own scared hearts.
“You’re a fantasy, Emmabelle. Too good to be true. Too bad to be experienced.”
Belle has to be the best female lead in this entire series, I loved that she was a feminist to her core and that she actually stood up and made something for herself without asking for help from anyone. I loved her no nonsense, boss girl attitude and that she lived so loud, large and unapologetically herself. At the same time I loved getting to see the softer side to her come out in regards to her baby and largely in her interactions with Devon. Under her rough no nonsense exterior was actually a very hurt soul and gosh did my heart break for her; firstly for what happened to her all those years ago and then for having to carry around such a big secret.
“Only one man in Boston sounded like power, smoke, and an impending orgasm. Say hello to Devon Whitehall.”
As for our dashing rake Devon, gosh it was hard not to just love this guy, there was something innately charming about his character that I just couldn’t help but want to uncover more and more. I will say for all his scoundrel ways he was actually fully committed to Belle even before he himself actually realised his feelings. I think the thing that I loved about Devon the most was that he was so completely open about who he was and really didn’t care that people though of him as this villain dressed as a hero, but under all this bravado he was actually this real caring sweetheart that just wanted everyone that he cared about to be happy. I will say my heart totally broke for all that Devon had to go through as a child and that his relationship was so strained with his family.
“Devon Whitehall, after all, is the man who taught me the most important life lesson— that you can still believe.”
Devon and Belle were total and complete fire together. I loved getting to see their dynamic unfold and watching them dance around the clear and undeniable chemistry. I loved that they were two broken souls that came together to help heal each other and find their own little happy bubble. Normally age gap romances are not a favourite of mine but there was something about Devon and Belle’s romance that just worked for me. I will say that there are a few trigger warnings such as rape, abuse, child grooming that make this book slightly dark but this somehow just makes this story all the more moving and touching.
Packed with Angst & Steam, THE RAKE was a deliciously decadent read of two broken souls that find light and love together. This is book is most definitely not to be missed. I can not wait to see what amazingly sinful new series Shen cooks up for next, one thing I know for sure it is going to be hard to out to do The Boston Belles!
Book Info:
Publication: February 16, 2022 | L.J. Shen | Boston Belles #4
Boston’s most infamous femme fatale meets her match in a dangerously mild Englishman who has vowed to never marry in this romantic standalone from Washington Post bestselling author L.J. Shen
Emmabelle Penrose has cruised through life never needing a man, a plan that has worked stunningly well until about five minutes ago, when she decided she must have a baby.
Devon Whitehall is 6’2” of premium DNA, financial security, and British royal titles. Best of all, he fears the one thing she dreads the most: getting hitched.
Emmabelle figures it’s a no-brainer when Devon offers his services—sperm and involvement in her future child’s life.
What begins as an innocent, modern-family arrangement, quickly erodes into a web of lies, dark pasts, and unfurled secrets.
Inside this chaos, Emmabelle and Devon are forced to face the awful truth—they are capable of love.
Even worse, they might feel it toward each other.
