The Rake and the Reformer

Author:

Mary Jo Putney

Published:

Signet, September 1989 ; 351 pages

Related titles by this author:

The Diabolical Baron, The Would-Be Widow

Subgenre:

Regency romance

Setting:

England -- Dorset, 1810s

Main characters:

Reginald Davenport and Alys Weston

Sexual explicitness:

Fairly explicit, especially for a Regency romance

Keywords:

Intrigue ; alcoholism, estate management, family responsibility, females disguised as males, heiresses

Reader rating:

Reader comments:

I always enjoy reading books by Mary jo putney (L.B., 3-14-98) I loved this book! I've enjoyed rereading it many times! I love the characters and the storyline. (D.T., 5-22-97) My first Putney and IMO her best; a keeper for sure. (Y.P., 1-14-97) The best "serious" regency I've ever read. Anyone who likes realistic characters dealing with real-life problems will love it. So will fans of tortured heroes. (N.B., 1-3-97) I was moved to tears at the scene where Reggie hits rock bottom and is filled with despair. Alys lovingly gives him back hope. Very powerful moment. (C.L., 10-4-96) I had never read a Regency dealing with a "social issue". I thought she dealt with that in an excellent fashion. I am, however, not a fan of sexually explicit Regencies. I know it happened, but I prefer the dialogue and nuance/tension style of less is more. (K.W., 8-3-96) I had to fight my sister to get this one back! Ms. Putney's best. I don't know how she can improve upon it. (N.J., 5-28-96) One of the best romances I've read in a long while. The serious problem of alcoholism is treated with maturity, sympathy, believability. Even more surprising, it does not mar the romance or become at all didactic/preachy, and the book maintains its historical flavor--i.e., it is not too strongly twentieth-century in attitude or details, as might well have happened in the hands of another author dealing with the subject. This is Putney's best book. She's supposed to be revamping and expanding it (that means, adding sex scenes) for a 1997 historical version; hope she retains all the good qualities of this Regency version. (E.P., 5-19-96) LOVED this book. Loved the chemistry and tension between the main characters. Loved the story and the focus on alcoholism. (K.B., 10-29-95) I have found her early work is as good as her later work. The storyline here was very well done. The story was beleivable and the characters were realistic. Nice job. (J.A., 8-31-95) Different for treatment of alcoholism as a disease, not merely a weakness. Strong female character. (M.M., 7-18-95) The characters were interesting, but it was too preachy for my taste. I don't read these books looking for a moral lesson. (L.F., 7-1-95) This book was pretty good ; I confess I'm not a great fan of Regencies except for Mary Balogh. Though psychologically penetrating into the thought processes of alcoholics, the book was a bit too issue-oriented for me. (K.K., 6-28-95) Very well done, the alcohol problem was dealt with in a very realistic way. For a short book it was great. Will keep it always. (P.L., 5-19-95)

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