Nine rules to brake when romancing a rake

Author - Sarah Machlean

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell is tired of being the proper wallflower, so she makes a list of daring rules to break—including kissing a stranger, dueling, and gambling at a gentlemen’s club. When she crosses paths with the irresistible Gabriel St. John, Marquess of Ralston, her adventures lead to passion, scandal, and unexpected love.

Genre - Historical Romance

Notes: Nine rules to brake when romancing a rake

• • Lady Annabelle "Anna" Peyton is a bluestocking, more interested in knowledge than society.
• • She has a carefully constructed reputation for being unmarriageable and a terror to chaperones.
• • Her parents are pressuring her to marry, threatening to send her away if she doesn't secure a suitable match.
• • Anna decides to orchestrate her own downfall to escape the marriage market.
• • Her plan involves a series of scandalous actions, the first being to find a rake.
• • She sets her sights on the notorious Marquess of “Devil” Davies, known for his charm and lack of attachment.
• • Anna believes Davies is the perfect man to ruin her reputation effectively.
• • She deliberately seeks him out at a ball, intending to create a scene.
• • Davies is intrigued by Anna’s boldness and unconventional approach.
• • He agrees to her proposition, seeing it as a game and a challenge.
• • Anna begins to follow her "Nine Rules" to break when romancing a rake, designed for maximum scandal.
• • Rule One: Make him notice you. Anna does this by deliberately being seen with Davies in compromising situations.
• • Rule Two: Make him desire you. Davies finds himself increasingly drawn to Anna's intelligence and spirit.
• • Rule Three: Make him jealous. Anna uses her knowledge of society to subtly create situations that pique Davies's possessiveness.
• • Davies, in turn, finds himself unexpectedly protective of Anna.
• • Anna's intelligence and sharp wit begin to disarm Davies.
• • They engage in witty banter and intellectual sparring, which is new for Davies.
• • Rule Four: Make him chase you. Anna pretends to withdraw slightly, making Davies pursue her more actively.
• • Davies starts to see past Anna's "terror" persona to the intelligent and vulnerable woman beneath.
• • He discovers her love for books and her scholarly pursuits.
• • Anna realizes Davies isn't just a shallow rake; he has hidden depths and a past that shaped him.
• • Rule Five: Make him regret his indifference. Anna shows Davies what he's missing by not truly engaging with her.
• • A specific incident involves Anna being threatened or put in danger, prompting Davies to act decisively.
• • Davies intervenes, revealing his genuine concern and bravery.
• • Rule Six: Make him feel something. Anna’s actions and personality are chipping away at Davies’s carefully constructed emotional walls.
• • The two share their first kiss, a moment of surprising tenderness and passion.
• • Rule Seven: Make him want more. The kiss ignites a deeper desire and connection between them.
• • Davies finds himself falling for Anna, which terrifies him.
• • Anna also develops genuine feelings for Davies, despite her initial plan.
• • Rule Eight: Make him fight for you. As their feelings grow, societal pressures and past issues threaten to pull them apart.
• • Davies's past reputation and responsibilities as a Marquess create obstacles.
• • Anna's family continues to pressure her, unaware of her true intentions or developing feelings.
• • A specific event, perhaps a public scandal or a miscommunication, causes a rift between them.
• • Davies struggles with his fear of commitment and his past experiences with betrayal.
• • Anna is heartbroken by Davies's perceived withdrawal or doubt.
• • Rule Nine: Make him realize he can't live without you. This is the ultimate goal, where Anna’s actions force Davies to confront his love.
• • Davies must choose between his ingrained cynicism and his genuine love for Anna.
• • He confronts his demons and his fear of vulnerability.
• • Anna, in her own way, also has to decide if she’s willing to give up her independence for love.
• • Davies makes a grand gesture to prove his love and commitment to Anna.
• • This gesture involves defying societal expectations and his own reputation.
• • He declares his love for Anna openly and unequivocally.
• • Anna accepts Davies's proposal, realizing her plan has led her to true happiness.
• • Their unconventional courtship leads to a passionate and committed relationship.
• • The story concludes with Anna and Davies embracing their future together.
• • Anna has successfully broken her own rules and found love with the very man she intended to ruin.
• • Davies has found a woman who challenges and inspires him, breaking his own pattern of detachment.