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Sally Orr | What Makes a Rake (and a "Rake" Giveaway)
February 16, 2016
Welcome. Let’s discuss one of our favorite types of heroes—the rake. The word rake came into use during the Restoration as a wealthy, fashionable
gentleman of promiscuous and dissolute habits. The most famous rake of this time
is the rake in a series of engravings done in 1735 by Hogarth called, The
Rake’s Progress. These pictures document the rake’s progressive
deterioration by womanizing and all around self-indulgence. From the 19th century to today, we use the term to define a ladies’
man and more than likely a libertine. There is a multi-volume set of books
written in 1825 called, The Lives of the Rakes, by Edwin Beresford. The
most famous rake of the Georgian to Regency-era was the Duke of Queensbury, also
known as “Old Q.” He kept successive Cyprians, but he also pursued many young
ladies. He famously moved to Number 17 Arlington Street, because it was next
door to a Miss Frances Pelham. His addresses were rebuffed, so he built a bow
window in his house to view the window of Miss Pelham's, thereby continuing his
ardent courtship via window. Yet while that courtship failed, because of his
wealth and unmarried status, many women still found him an attractive match. Of
course, the ladies’ behavior only increased society’s disapproval of him. When
he grew too old to chase women, he sat on the balcony of 138 Piccadilly ogling
them and giving his servant notes of admiration to take down to them on the
sidewalk. In our current world of Regency romance novels, why do we love rakes? Below,
I’ve listed a few reasons why and then provided an excerpt from my latest
release, TO CATCH A RAKE.
- Rakes are usually handsome and arrogant. Needless
to say, that arrogance will be brought to heel by the love of a good woman.
“Forgive me, Mrs. Russell, but you are
obviously not acquainted with all of womankind. Most ladies are not affronted in
the least.”
“Do you mean to tell me that you have taken a
survey of all of womankind about their feelings in regard to your field
guide?”
The wicked smile beamed from his handsome, lean
face. “Indeed, I have made some effort to…survey all of womankind.”
- Rakes instinctively know how to charm a lady and
sweep her off her feet.
“You see, the secret to pleasuring a woman
requires many traits unique to engineers.” His wholly wicked smile appeared on a
pleased countenance. “There are steps to consider for maximum satisfaction. It’s
like building a bridge: first you must find the right site. In this case”—he
locked the door—“the site needs to be secured.”
- A rake is usually the bad boy in a
novel—dangerous, aloof, or forbidden.
In her dreams, she saw him in many different
forms. George as the proverbial knight in shining armor slaying the dragon,
George as a steely Viking at the prow of his longboat, or George as a red-coated
general leading his men into battle. But those were just silly dreams. Dreams
paled in comparison to reality. In real life, he was George, the man building
modern Britain, a far more significant accomplishment than a typical hero in a
novel.
- Rakes are exciting and seldom boring.
“If I penned a field guide, I’d include you
under the category of bear. Bear because you’re big and black.”
“And bite.”
“Yes, I’m sure you bite.”
He leaned close enough to whisper in her ear.
“Bears do not bite ladies, madam, they nibble.”
- Rakes possess command of the room and their
confidence makes them hard to ignore.
“You wish to be considered a Happy Goer?”
She held her breath. His question was followed
by the wickedest smile Meta had ever seen given by a gentleman. Wicked because
it revealed an intimate knowledge of Happy Goers. Wicked because it contained a
veiled challenge for her to retaliate in kind. And wicked because, regardless of
her response, he possessed complete confidence in his ultimate victory.
- But the most important reason is that we can
forgive a young rake, because there is always the possibility of
reform. And when a rake falls in love—they fall hard.
I won’t provide an excerpt here, because it would contain spoilers. To find
out if George’s rakish ways are ever reformed, check out TO CATCH A RAKE! Happy reading! Sally Orr GiveawayWhat are your favorite characteristics of a "rake" just tell us below, we're
giving away a copy of the first two books in the series: THE RAKE'S
HANDBOOK and WHEN A RAKE
FALLS.
Sally Orr worked for thirty years in medical research, specializing in the
discovery of gene function. After joining an English history message board, she
posted many, many examples of absolute tomfoolery. As a result, a cyber-friend
challenged her to write a novel. Since she is a hopeless Anglophile, it’s not
surprising that her first book is a Regency-era romance. Sally lives with her
husband in San Diego, surrounded by too many nonfiction books and not enough old
English cars.
No Good Rake Goes Unpunished When George Drexel used
his vast experience with women to write and publish The Rake's Handbook:
Including Field Guide, little did he realize the havoc it would cause. Now years
later, the rumor of a second edition has London's naughtiest widows pounding on
his door, begging to be included. But George has given up his roguish ways and
wants nothing more than to be left alone with his architectural pursuits...until
beautiful Meta Russell tempts him from his work and leaves him contemplating an
altogether different sort of plan. The handbook may be years out of print,
but it still has the power to ruin lives. Desperate to save her sister-whose
inclusion has left her jilted-Meta tracks down the rake responsible, only to
find a man who steals her breath and leaves her reeling. Banding together to put
things to rights, George and Meta find themselves drawn inexorably
together...but can Meta truly trust her heart to a man who wrote the book on
being a rake?
Comments
29 comments posted.
Re: Sally Orr | What Makes a Rake (and a "Rake" Giveaway)
To sum up Ms. Orr's post, Rakes have to have that "Bad Boy,
Good Man" thing going for them. If they're solely bad,
uncaring, unfeeling, cads, bounders of the first water, then
they are unlikable. Rakes need to have redeeming qualities to
make them good heroes.
(Edward Washington 9:24pm February 16, 2016)
I've always liked a bad boy, they're just more fun, as well as much more interesting.
(Barbara Elness 11:17pm February 16, 2016)
Rakes are good looking, arrogant bad boys. Much deep down,
they have a good heart, only revealed by a good woman.
(Patricia Pinkston 10:33am February 17, 2016)
Rakes have a sense of humor and are fascinating.
(Sharon Berger 11:37am February 17, 2016)
They should be a bit of a bad boy but with a soft heart. I also enjoy when they have a sense of humor mixed with a little sarcastic tone
(Julie Parrish 5:55pm February 17, 2016)
A bad boy, with a heart of gold, is the best of both worlds!
(Jan Capstick 6:07pm February 17, 2016)
I like the bad guy who turns good. Love the review.
Penney
(Penney Wilfort 3:30am February 18, 2016)
When a Rake amazed realizes he himself has fallen in love.
(Sandra Stipins 2:03pm February 18, 2016)
I like when a rake reforms due to the love of his lady
(Melinda Marks 6:30pm February 18, 2016)
Favorite characteristics of a rake: charming, handsome, sexually talented at giving a woman pleasure, dedicated to their pursuit of pleasure
They can never resist a challenge. Love it when they are forced to change in order to gain the woman they've fallen in love with. They make the best husbands
(Laurie Gommermann 9:40am February 19, 2016)
He's a bad boy until he discovers the woman of his dreams then he does whatever it takes to get her.
(Joan Thrasher 12:26pm February 19, 2016)
I'm always into the rakes. But like others have mentioned, they have to
have a good heart and genuinely be a good person that made bad choices
in their past. Not just someone that is rude and uncaring, selfish or plain
terrible.
(Lily Shah 12:31pm February 19, 2016)
I freaking love your characters!!!!
(Candy Voisine 2:51pm February 20, 2016)
Oh!!! And rakes are my absolute favorite! If it was the 1800's
I swear I would purposely get caught alone with a rake!!
(Candy Voisine 2:53pm February 20, 2016)
A rake is a handsome man that can get into trouble but not in a serious way. They can be a bit spoiled but lovable! LOVE your books!!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 4:22pm February 20, 2016)
A rake is a handsome man who could do "bad" so well.
(Kai Wong 10:04pm February 20, 2016)
A rake can get into all kinds of trouble and still be adored.
(Bonnie Capuano 2:43pm February 21, 2016)
I love a bad boy with style and that sums up a rake.
(Carol Woodruff 7:15pm February 21, 2016)
They are just more interesting than the standard hero,
(Susan Beamon 7:53pm February 21, 2016)
I love a heroine who will give a Rake a run for his money! Good Luck Everyone!
(Therese Abdali 7:58pm February 21, 2016)
Rakes are so charming, confident, and intriguing.
(Bonnie H 8:26pm February 21, 2016)
Lol, Old Q turned into that single uncle every tells you to
stay away from. I love how authors incorporate pieces of real
history into their work!
(Martina Arguijo 9:34pm February 21, 2016)
They are a bad boy with a conscience , a tender heart and really want to really be loved..I would love to win ...
(Karen Dieffenbaugher 12:08pm February 22, 2016)
Favorite characteristics of a rake: a sense of humor; the
ability to not take himself too seriously; a bit of
arrogance; and a heart ready to love the right lady.
(Marguerite Guinn 12:34pm February 22, 2016)
I Love that he always has a soft spot and tender heart - no
matter how hard he tries to hide it!
(Glenda Martillotti 8:16pm February 22, 2016)
Confidence, sense of humor, kind - that's a good rake!
(Diane Sallans 9:12pm February 22, 2016)
Strong , loves his lady ,family and true to his friends.
(Deb Pelletier 10:18pm February 22, 2016)
But... Takes these days never reform. So it
makes me wonder if the really ever did or is it
hopeful, positive thinking that makes us
happily read books about Rakes becoming our
hero!???
(Bonny Bordeleau 2:11am March 28, 2016)
Confidence and charm make a rake appealing.
(Bonnie H 9:01pm March 29, 2016)
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