Review - Lizzie's Rake by Hazel Statham

Lizzie's Rake

by: Hazel Statham

Paperback: 232 pages
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press (April 7, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1601544650
ISBN-13: 978-1601544650
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.6 inches

Lovers of Historical Romance will simply fall under the spell of Lizzie's Rake from the beginning. Elizabeth Granger and her younger twin siblings have come to find out that they are about to be evicted from their beloved home. However, Maxim Beaufort, who has come to own their home, has changed his mind after meeting the three. Everything seemed rather settled, until a tragic fire consumes and destroys their home.

Against her better judgement, Lizzie takes Maxim up on an offer to reside at one of his residences. There is tension between the two, yet there is also a strong pull of desire. Maxim is a well known playboy, but has he met his match in Lizzie? Can she learn to trust him and trust the fact that he can change his ways?

Lizzie's Rake is a delightful combination of romance, a bit of suspense and a lesson in love and trust. What I found particularly enjoyable was the fact that the author, Ms. Statham, threw in a few twists and turns within the story. This lent a new dimension to the story, rather than just the torturous/trying to fight love theme that is typical in Historical Romance.

In the beginning, I had a bit of a hard time getting into the story, I think the main cause being the many names that Maxim is called by. There are times he is referred to as Maxim, others as Earl and then others as St. Ive. Once I became use to this and had it straight in my mind, the reading flowed much smoother and I was able to get into the story very quickly. Lizzie's Rake is an enjoyable and fun read - one that I found myself eager to return to again and again. The characters are delightful, dialog engaging and storyline engrossing.

Ms. Statham does a wonderful job in showing off her talent in Lizzie's Rake and makes it a perfect read to settle back with and just escape the everyday doldrums.

*overall rating 4/5

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Bit About Lizzie's Rake:

Can a rake reform his ways and truly love? Lizzie's head tells her one thing, her heart another. Infamous rake and Corinthian, Maxim Beaufort, Earl of St. Ive, finding himself in possession of a property in Yorkshire, is unprepared for the changes it will bring into his life. Irresistibly drawn to Elizabeth Granger, the former owner's daughter, he attempts to help the family, finding himself filling the role of benefactor. When the house is razed to the ground, he arranges for temporary accommodation for Elizabeth and her siblings on his estate. When Elizabeth rejects his proposal of marriage, he is nonetheless determined to win her over. However, events and his reputation conspire to thwart his efforts and his course is one fraught with dangers. Trust does not come easily and determined to protect her heart, Elizabeth struggles to resist her own longings. At times, their difficulties appear insurmountable but the earl is widely known as 'The Indomitable' and the name was not lightly earned.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt:

“Indeed you have, my dear,” he said earnestly, and she raised her eyes quickly to his face. He moved away as if the look discomfited him and there existed a silence between them, only the stamping of the horses’ hooves as they moved restlessly in the stalls invading the moment.

Suddenly turning and coming to stand before her, St. Ive asked quietly, “Do you still think of me as an intruder, Elizabeth? Am I still not welcome in your home?”

“Maxim…” she began, and would have turned away, but immediately his arm detained her, drawing her back to face him.

For a long moment his searching gaze devoured her face until, tilting back her chin with his free hand, he bowed his head and kissed her. As the gentle kiss turned more demanding and he drew her tightly to his chest, he became aware that her soft lips remained frozen beneath his and she held her delicate frame rigid within his embrace. The fear in her eyes cut through him and immediately he released her from his arms.

“Why?” she demanded, the instant she was set free, bewilderment heavy in her voice.

“Why?” he repeated softly, almost as if he spoke to himself, a slight smile on his lips, and after the briefest hesitation he said flippantly, “Because you have rain on your face, my dear.”

“Odious, detestable man,” she cried angrily, running out into the night, not even pausing to take up her lantern.

He stood watching as the dark downpour devoured her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


A Bit About Hazel Statham:

Hazel Statham lives in Staffordshire, England. She started writing at fifteen and has written on and off ever since. She has always been fascinated by history and writes mainly in the Regency and Georgian eras, although she has had a short medieval story published. When she was a child, she often told herself stories and this just progressed to committing them to paper to entertain family and friends. There have however, been gaps in her writing years where marriage and employment intervened, but now that she no longer works, she is able to return to her first love and devote her time to writing. She had her first two novels published in 2005.

She has been married to her husband Terry since 1969 and they have a grown daughter and beautiful grandson. Apart from reading and writing historical novels, her other ruling passion is animals and until recently, she was treasurer for an organization that raised money for animal charities. She currently shares her home with two lovely yellow Labradors named Lucy and Mollie, who are her constant companions. They are real sweeties, but it’s not always easy working at the computer with a large Labrador trying to get on your knee!

You can visit Hazel online at www.hazel-statham.co.uk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Win Prizes!


The LIZZIE'S RAKE VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '09 will officially begin on June 1 and end on June 26. You can visit Hazel's blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of June to find out more about this great book and talented author!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available.