This was simple and sweet. While the storyline is standard HR fare (spinster reforms rake), I enjoyed the characters, their histories and developments, making this feel like a fresh take on a common tale. ( )

Sometimes you read a book that says more about the author that it does about the characters. Christi Caldwell, in her stirring dedication, opens her heart to the struggles and joys she has faced watching her son grow up. Joy in seeing him learn and grow and struggles in watching others not recognizing him for the amazing person he is.
That being said - this heart-touching story of childhood friends separated by multiple disastrous events brings them together again years later. Daniel and Daphne are damaged more by how people see them than by their actual circumstances. Daphne's life has never been the same since she fell and broke her leg. Just as her leg didn't set correctly, leaving her with a limp, her life was forever changed - defined only as a cripple. Someone who could be taken advantage of by a cruel rake during her only Season.
Daniel's life fell apart when he was unable to save his older twin brother from drowning. Then, when his mother becomes pregnant to replace the son they lost, she not only dies shortly after the birth but disappointingly gives birth to a daughter. This sets their father into a tailspin of drinking and gambling - leaving a worthless estate to his worthless son.
Daniel's way of coping with his guilt is to pull away from anyone and everyone who he might have loved - including his childhood friend Daphne and his young sister Alice. Now, he is being forced to provide a season for his sister so she can meet a nice young man. To do this, she must have a companion. Daphne's life hasn't been much better, her father has died and she is on the point of being turned out of her childhood home. She must find work, but to gain employment requires experience and references and to get references requires employment. Out of desperation she comes to Daniel asking him to write a reference - just when he is in need of a companion. So they each get what they want but neither is happy about it.
In their time together, Daphne and Daniel remind each other of what they have lost/given up in their attempt to protect their hearts. But the longer they are together the more they are able to recognize how much they have missed their friendship. Daniel is able to see beyond the crippled leg to the wonderful woman Daphne is. Daphne recognizes that Daniel is more than the rake that he has become.
It is a rocky road to healing for both of them but true healing never comes without some pain. This entire series has been filled with stories of men and women who fight to get the Happily Ever After that they deserve. Daniel and Daphne truly are a welcome addition to this series. The pain and struggles only make the happiness all the sweeter in the end. ( )

As children, Daphne Smith and Daniel Winterbourne were the best of friends! They laughed and played and Daniel even became Daphne's hero, when he carried her home in the rain, after she broke her leg. But as they grew up, a wedge developed between them, so by the time of Daphne’s coming out, they no longer talked.
13 years later Daniel is now Earl of Montfort; he has become a cold and reckless man, mainly due to the guilt and blame of losing his brother and the hateful word of his late father. So Daniel had decided to live up to everything his father opinion of him, he took every wager, drank, had a mistress and generally flitted away his inheritance.
But things changed, when a woman arrived at Daniel’s estate, demanding to see him, but when he storms from his warm bed and the women warming it, the last thing Daniel was expecting to see was someone SO familiar…Daniel could never forget those emerald colored eyes, her crimson hair or her freckled face, even if he hadn’t seen her in 13 years…Daphne Smith.
Things had changed so much for Daphne since she was a child, labeled a cripple because of her damaged leg and because of a scandal during her coming out, Daphne is happy to hide and work towards her goal of becoming an instructor at The Ladies of Hope, but first she needs references and the perfect place would be Mrs. Belden Fishing School, only Mrs. Belden didn’t think that Daphne would be a good fit. As she was leaving, she overheard mention of her childhood friend, forgetting his sister Alice.
After confronting Daniel; Daphne finds herself in London and working as Lady Alice’s companion. As time goes on, Daphne falls in love with Daniel, but when Daphne’s scandal threatens to rear its ugly head; Daphne leaves in order to protect the man she love, but will Daniel just let her go.
Christi Caldwell continues to amaze me with her amazing and life altering books. The author manages to tell a story about love, but also managed to bring issues that still effect people today. I love the way she looks at disabilities and uses them, not as a drawback, but as a positive thing and I know we can thank her son Rory for that. I truly urge the reader to read the dedication of this book, because it is dedicated to an amazing young man.
To Redeem a Rake is everything I have come to expect from this author; beautifully written, well researched and can move you to tears in a heartbeat. My words cannot even express just how magical this book is, or explain just how much this book moved me. When it comes to the characters, you can’t help but fall in love with Daniel, warts and all. I admire Daphne’s courageousness, in everything she does!
With all that being said, I have to give To Redeem a Rake 5 stars, even though it deserves a billion!
( )

As children, Daphne Smith and Daniel Winterbourne were the best of friends! They laughed and played and Daniel even became Daphne's hero, when he carried her home in the rain, after she broke her leg. But as they grew up, a wedge developed between them, so by the time of Daphne’s coming out, they no longer talked.
13 years later Daniel is now Earl of Montfort; he has become a cold and reckless man, mainly due to the guilt and blame of losing his brother and the hateful word of his late father. So Daniel had decided to live up to everything his father opinion of him, he took every wager, drank, had a mistress and generally flitted away his inheritance.
But things changed, when a woman arrived at Daniel’s estate, demanding to see him, but when he storms from his warm bed and the women warming it, the last thing Daniel was expecting to see was someone SO familiar…Daniel could never forget those emerald colored eyes, her crimson hair or her freckled face, even if he hadn’t seen her in 13 years…Daphne Smith.
Things had changed so much for Daphne since she was a child, labeled a cripple because of her damaged leg and because of a scandal during her coming out, Daphne is happy to hide and work towards her goal of becoming an instructor at The Ladies of Hope, but first she needs references and the perfect place would be Mrs. Belden Fishing School, only Mrs. Belden didn’t think that Daphne would be a good fit. As she was leaving, she overheard mention of her childhood friend, forgetting his sister Alice.
After confronting Daniel; Daphne finds herself in London and working as Lady Alice’s companion. As time goes on, Daphne falls in love with Daniel, but when Daphne’s scandal threatens to rear its ugly head; Daphne leaves in order to protect the man she love, but will Daniel just let her go.
Christi Caldwell continues to amaze me with her amazing and life altering books. The author manages to tell a story about love, but also managed to bring issues that still effect people today. I love the way she looks at disabilities and uses them, not as a drawback, but as a positive thing and I know we can thank her son Rory for that. I truly urge the reader to read the dedication of this book, because it is dedicated to an amazing young man.
To Redeem a Rake is everything I have come to expect from this author; beautifully written, well researched and can move you to tears in a heartbeat. My words cannot even express just how magical this book is, or explain just how much this book moved me. When it comes to the characters, you can’t help but fall in love with Daniel, warts and all. I admire Daphne’s courageousness, in everything she does!
With all that being said, I have to give To Redeem a Rake 5 stars, even though it deserves a billion! ( )