DO NOT READ THIS BEFORE READING [b:A Game of Persuasion|41443285|A Game of Persuasion (The Scandalous Spinsters, #3)|Emma Locke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1535058854l/41443285._SY75_.jpg|45851144]! Honestly I kinda wish I had had read the first two books in the series, despite them not appealing to me, as these books seem to build a lot on each other. My review of A Game of Persuasion is really a combo of that story and this book, since it’s really actually all one book:

I’m 62% in and frankly a bit embarrassed on behalf of the heroine due to her chasing the hero so hard no matter how many times he shoves his indifference to her in her face. Just when I think she’s wising up after he tells her that he is head over heels in love with a woman who knows about his feelings for her, she’s all “Perhaps she could change him.” Ugh.

Okay, finished and immediately dove into the second book, as this is a cliffhanger extended intro/prologue. It’s all one story so they kind of blend together, but I have to say, while there is some QUALITY angst and excellent steam, I just don’t quite understand the heroine’s confidence. She’s described as plain, she’s a spinster, he’s never noticed her, he’s in love with someone else and he is a rake that is coveted by every woman in the ton? While I enjoyed her anxiety about inheriting her mother’s “madness” - her mother killed her father for his infidelity, it eclipsed the angst I was seeking, namely a plain spinster pining for a man she should think could never care for her. I have a very specific trope that I look for, and frankly, this is not it.

This was it is well-written, I couldn’t put it down, and has unique characters with a very developed plot that was much more complex and non-tropey than I was expecting, so I’m giving it 4 stars, which is usually reserved for books that nail my favored tropes. ( )

ADORABLE! Emma Locke has found a new fan. Roman and Lucy were magnetic. I had to finish this story as soon as I started it. It was so cute how she tried to turn the tables and ended up falling into her own trap. It was wonderful how strong Lucy was in her beliefs. Normally the heroine gives in way too quickly. But she was spunky and determined to do things her way. Roman discovers that whenever the heart is involved anything goes and is willing to give his all to prove that he is all in. I received a copy of The Art of Ruining a Rake in exchange for an honest review. It is obvious to me that I love a story when it keeps drawing me back whenever I have to put it down. This was one of those types of reads for me. ( )

The Art of Ruining a Rake is not quite your typical Regency romance. Lucy has been in love with her brother's friend Roman since she was a little girl. When she gets her chance to spend the night with him, she takes it, then hies off to Bath to run a school for young ladies.
Meanwhile Roman is bewildered by her rather carefree attitude. Roman is a rake and has a strong dose of Peter Pan syndrome. He lets his brother handle his responsibilities and flits among the ladies of the Ton. He can't understand why Lucy turns down his proposal of marriage - twice.
This is a story of misunderstandings and growing up. There were times in the book when I didn't like either Roman or Lucy, but you can't help rooting for them both. It was interesting to see these two young adults (well, Roman is a little older, but acts younger than Lucy) evolve into people that I really liked by book end. Well done, Ms. Locke.
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley. ( )