Sort of a fake relationship with two very interesting characters that are more unique than expected in a historical romance story.
I really enjoyed this story. The transformation was just hilarious at times and their interaction really made me have a smile on my face at all times while reading this book. Their attraction is highly felt throughout the book and that chemistry is hard to get when you depict such intriguing characters and scenes.
Perfect for any romance reader.

I have reviewed, and enjoyed reading, several of Eva Leigh’s novels. This one is called My Fake Rake. Lady Grace Wyatt is content to remain an unmarried wallflower following scientific pursuits. When, however, a famous and handsome naturalist returns from studying abroad, Grace wants to be noticed for more than her academic prowess. She invents the perfect man to act suitor and therefore catch his eye. Her willing victim is her colleague, anthropologist Sebastian Holloway who she quickly shapes into the perfect man.
She transforms him from bespectacled nerd into a handsome fake rake. Grace’s feeling for Sebastian develop and she falls in love with him, as he does with her but will he tell her.

An interesting read, slightly different to the traditional historical romance. Both characters are academic nerds. Sebastian isn’t rich and doesn’t cope well in crowds/ social situations so does not come across as the traditional hero. Grace is the dominant, determined character in the novel whilst Sebastian’s character slowly develops as he becomes more confident. I enjoyed the gentle flirting, banter and discussion about reptilian sex (not something you normally read about in M&B). I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it.

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted

This is a fun fake relationship historical romance. This is my first time back reading Eva Leigh in a while and I actually thought this was much better than the others of hers I had read - you get to know the hero and heroine and you get why they're friends and why they should be together. I thought the union of the Rakes needed a bit more set up/explanation, especially because the hero is pretending to be a rake and is really clueless about social rules - despite the fact that he's friends with a due and went to Eton - that just didn't quite add up to me. But as long as I didn't think about it too hard it was all fine.

MY FAKE RAKE was a mixed bag for me, in that I adored these characters but unfortunately the storyline fell a little flat.

Sebastian and Grace are both rather nerdy in their own ways, whilst they have different fields of interest, they find themselves bonding over their love of science and have formed a great friendship with one another.

Sebastian has been interested in Grace since they first met but he's always pushed aside those feelings as he feels he's not good enough for her - he's not very wealthy and he suffers from social anxiety which causes him to struggle in London society. He is the sweetest man though and willing to do anything to help Grace out, even if it means making himself uncomfortable.

Grace is a sweet and highly intelligent young woman who finds herself scaring off the men around her with her constant talk of reptiles and amphibians, she just wants to be appreciated and find someone who'll be happy to talk with her about her interests.

This was such a great gem for anyone looking for a historical friends-to-lovers romance. It was great to see Sebastian and Grace reevaluating their relationship as they began to discover that their feelings went much further than just friendship. However, I wished they'd been honest with each other a little sooner. The end felt slightly rushed to me and there was too much miscommunication going on about their feelings.

Overall, this was a solid romance where I found myself swooning for the romance and enjoyed seeing how interested they were in one another's favourite subjects. This was my first read by this author but it won't be my last - i'm looking forward to seeing the other members of the Union of the Rakes get their HEA's.

This is exactly what it says on 'the tin' - a light-hearted easy read that takes you out of reality and into a world where happy ever after can come true (excuse my undertone of cynicism) . I found I had an enjoyable time reading 'My Fake Rake' - it's a plot I've encountered before, of pretense and denial, but with an added depth of feminism for women's intellect and abilities.
A good book if you're looking for a racy romance to escape our covid infested world.

This was a nice romance, I certainly liked the characters and how they were different to the normal Dukes and Ladies who float about in upper society.
In fact I really liked Sebastian who seemed to get manlier by the page... nothing to do with his changing appearance because I couldn't see it, but he just gained a confidence. And a dirty mouth.

The issue for me was that it felt so modern that a few times I actually forgot that it was supposed to be a Regency romance.

I prefer more charm, sass and banter in the dialogue than this book offered, as much as the talk of reptilian sex lives was racy, it just wasn't for me. I did love once the connect ratched up and Seb got filthy mouthed but for 80% it was just a bit too nice.

Overall a nice read but it lacked some of the key elements that I personally look for in a Regency Romance. Except Seb's mouth.

This was such a charming and lovely read. Sometimes you just want an easy, adorable read and this ticked all those boxes for me.

This was definitely more a character-driven romance than a plot-driven one. If I’m completely honest, not a lot actually happened but surprisingly I didn’t mind that. I think because Grace and Seb were just so darned cute together. My favourite parts were where they would have a moment, talking geeky things to each other. They were honestly perfect for each other and I will admit I got a bit frustrated at Grace for not realising this sooner. Seb and his pining were glorious.

I did knock half a star off because the ending seemed a bit rush and it seemed like the drama had just been shoved in at the last moment.

But if you like geeky romances with two adorable nerds then I definitely recommend this to you! The sequel is even better and now I'm just twiddling my thumbs waiting for the third book!

5 Word Review: Society, academia, expectation, love, friendship.

I was so incredibly impressed with My Fake Rake. It took a lot of commonly used tropes and dropped them on their heads. It was clever and fun and I barely had a smile off my face the whole time I was reading.

Eva Leigh is one of those authors where I know (ish) what I'm getting in to before I pick up the book. I know I'll enjoy the story and the characters, and with it being romance I know there will be a happy ending. And I know that I utterly adore their writing style so I'm in for a real treat. I highlighted over 100 passages.

My Fake Rake is legitimately one of the most fun books I have read for a long time. It had me giddy with excitement, I got so caught up in Grace and Sebastian's relationship and the back and forth hesitation between them is perfection.

I loved the play on fake-dating. I loved the make-over scene and the coaching and the hilarity that ensues. My Fake Rake is cheesy and it doesn't pretend not to be. There's a bit of nostalgia to the writing and Grace did often remind me of Evelyn from The Mummy with her sharp quips.

I think one of my favourite things was how Grace and Mason's interactions kind of mirrored Seb and Grace's. It was cute, the realisations they came to. And I something I really enjoyed was the exploration of Seb's anxiousness, and how he worked within himself to try and overcome it.

I loved how much actual science there was in the story. These two inquisitive minds are so awkward and it's the cutest. And fascinating too, seeing how society judges them so differently for it. The anthropological lens of Seb was fun to read,

I can't wait to read more Union of the Rakes books.



A burr of anger flared within her, that a woman could not exist in this world on her own. She would always be subject to a man’s munificence, always be less than because she’d been born a female.

I loved this well written romance. The characters are well drawn and memorable, and the story kept me turning the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

An entertaining love story between two, sweet individuals who suffer with social anxiety.

My Fake Rake is a classic tale of friends falling in love and not knowing how to deal with it. Add to that strict societal pressures and restrictions, and the high exceptions of young ladies in the regency era just to complicate matters further.

Overall, a fun read!

The story begins in an unusual way for a Regency romance, A group of boys at Eton, awaiting punishment for various misdemeanours. How is this related to the story? Well, it’s at Eton where the ‘Union of Rakes’ is created. Sebastian, clever but frequently bullied is the first hero in this series, and he is a character that you can’t help liking.

Grace is studious and independent, her looks draw suitors, but her frightening intelligence, unusual hobby and forthright manner soon have them scuttling away for easier conquests. She is drawn to a fellow scientist, but he fails to see her as a suitable partner, something that shouldn’t bother her but does. Enlisting Sebastian her like-minded friend’s help is an act of desperation and trust and begins a story that is full of friendship, humour and romance.

The friends to lovers trope are frequently used, but the lightness of the author’s touch manages to instil something fresh into it. Grace and Sebastian are both vulnerable, and this makes them easier to like. Inevitably, their perception of each other changes. Although predictable, the mutual attraction is nicely done, and the conflicts and misunderstandings make the inevitable passionate encounter hard-won. The story flows well, with all the trappings of Regency society and excellent supporting characters, many will be the stars of other books in the series.

With many Regency romances focusing on the darker side of life, this is a refreshing change. An enjoyable way to escape contemporary problems for awhile.

I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

My Fake Rake is the first book in a new series and at the beginning of this book we are introduced to the Union of the Rakes showing how this group of friends met. What can I say from there things just got better and better! With the amazing chemistry between the characters to the lighter moments that made me smile throughout. Sebastian and Grace were the perfect pairing and even though both are intelligent when it came to matters of the heart or the more social side of things they were pretty hopeless! This definitely helped to bring a lightness and humour to the story as you see their efforts sometimes backfiring. Now, Sebastian isn’t your typical Alpha hero and I have to say it made such a refreshing change. Although I could have happily shook some sense into him on occasion! Then again I could say exactly the same about Grace but I loved how Eva Leigh made me care about these two and I was rooting for them the whole way through!

The plan to turn Sebastian into a rake was played out brilliantly as the attraction between the pair simmers but at the same time they remain unsure of their feelings. Especially with the main complication being that this all started as a way for Grace to win the affections of another man. My Fake Rake is a slow burner of a romance but it definitely heated up along the way! There were times I had to check my Kindle wasn’t going to overheat 😉 My Fake Rake is a wonderful start to a new series and I can’t wait to read the next book! The friendship, romance and humour all combined to create a brilliant story that kept me entertained throughout. It was so much fun to read!

My Fake Rake is the first book in the Union of the Rakes series by Eva Leigh.

One of the ways that I know if a book is exceptionally good is when I can't review it until a few days after reading yet I remember every detail and don't need to have a recap of it before writing. That is the category that this book falls into.

The main reason I remember this story well is because of how frustrating it was. BUT, frustrating in a good way. The main female, Lady Grace Wyatt has thought herself in love with Mason, a celebrated naturalist. A man who only sees her as a friend and colleague. They have many things in common except for the fact that he has no romantic feelings towards her. Grace knows that she must marry at some point and thinks that he is the perfect man. After having some advice it's decided that she needs to make him take notice of her and what better way than to have her be seen as the love interest of one of London's rakes. The problem is she, nor her friends know of anybody who could play the part. That is until she realises that the perfect person would be her very best friend, Sebastian. He is far from being a rake, in fact, he is just as bookish as she is. He is very shy and struggles to speak to women. How on Earth is he ever going to be able to play the part? He needs an overhaul of not only his appearance but also his confidence. He has been in love with Grace for as long as he can remember, so despite him thinking the task impossible, he agrees to try. He goes from geeky looking nerd to a gorgeous, irresistible man about town that all the women go gaga over! It doesn't happen overnight, but it happens.

The frustrating part comes into it because Grace needs to pretend to have a rake fancy her in order to get Mason to look at her as a woman, not a sexless friend. Next, Sebastian helps her with her plans because he loves her, but he can't work up the courage to tell her. Then when Grace starts to notice Sebastian she still can't make up her mind if it's Mason or him that she wants. There is so much misunderstanding and bad communication that I wanted to jump into the book and bang some heads together. BUT I loved that I got so worked up about it all, and think the author did a fabulous job of getting this reader fully invested in the story.

The ending was fabulous and left me with a huge smile on my face, finally, those feelings of frustration abated and I could happily read this book over and over again. I definitely recommend it and am very much looking forward to reading the future books in this series.

4.5 Stars
Lady Grace Wyatt is content as a wallflower, focusing on scientific pursuits rather than the complications of society matches. But when a handsome, celebrated naturalist returns from abroad, Grace wishes, for once, to be noticed. Her solution: to “build” the perfect man, who will court her publicly and help her catch his eye. Grace’s colleague, anthropologist Sebastian Holloway, is just the blank slate she requires.
Sebastian has been in love with Grace for ages but she desires another or does she?
This is the first in a new series & was a charming read of Pygmalion in reverse. I loved both Sebastian & Grace who were perfect for each other, there was plenty of verbal bantering. I loved how the two scholars fell in love & look forward to more in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This book was a fun way to while away a few hours. I love Regency romances, and this one had a recommendation on the cover from Tessa Dare, so it seemed ideal.

The plot is a fun one, though similar have been written before. Girl uses male friend to show male she’s interested in that she’s a good catch. I liked the fact that the man she was initially interested in didn’t turn out to be horrible, as is usually the case. The book has lots of humour, and a sympathetic portrayal of social anxiety. However, it was let down by some anachronistic use of language (it seemed so to me anyway, but I’m far from an expert) - for example bastard to mean a nasty person rather than someone whose parents were unmarried. There are also a number of Americanisms - though again, I’m no expert on the Regency Era, so they may have been in common usage, they just stuck out to me. Some of the plot also seemed a little anachronistic to me.

However, this story was entertaining, and just a little bit silly. If you’re not a stickler for historical accuracy and just want a fun Regency romp, this is a good choice.

I was given a free copy of this book. My opinions are my own. You can preorder My Fake Rake here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B082QRX1P6/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1580326553&sr=8-1

Sorry but I am absolutely fed up with writers imposing a 21st. Century, anachronistic perspective on history.. A regency world where dozens of woman are scientists and get their papers published and form substantial parts of expeditionary forces undertaking research? A regency world where girls routinely have sex with no concern about pregnancy, reputation or anything else? A regency world where a mistress gives a maid half a crown (about £90 in today’s money) to disappear for a while? No way!

This book might well have worked If it had been set in the mid to late 19th century but as a Regency? I know we have to suspend disbelief but there is a limit.

The premise - Grace fancies Maddox and uses Seb to make him jealous - is not a new one. It’s quite well executed and Seb is a worthy hero. Grace annoyed me and I got really bored with her.

This was not a bad book; it just was not an awesome book. I found myself skimming through it. I guess if I hadn’t seen such glowing reviews for this writer, I might not have been so disappointed, but I did, and I was.

My Fake Rake is a really enjoyable fake courtship romance, with the added fun of a 80s/90s movie-esque makeover for the hero, complete with removal of glasses! The dynamic between the hero and heroine is very cute, moving from best friends to infatuation to love in a believable way. I really enjoyed the fact that both Grace and Seb were extremely bookish, and not fond of society - often with fake courtship the hero is an actual rake, and he hasn't previously valued book-learning or smart women, but it was really nice to see that Seb not only had his own interests, but also *already* valued Grace's intelligence rather than requiring a change of world-view to do so. The slow growth of the romantic and physical chemistry between them was great to watch.

I was also impressed by the depiction of Seb's social anxiety, and how his becoming a fake rake was as much about his personal development in overcoming his panic attacks as it was about furthering the romance. He's such a sweetheart and I was really rooting for him to gain some self-belief. I loved the cheesy parts - the makeover, the 'how to walk like a rake' training montage - but I also thought that a lot of it was heartfelt and sweet - by the end I was actually saying out loud to myself, "Oh come ON, you idiots!" as Seb and Grace kept failing to notice the others' feelings, so I can definitely say I was fully invested! I'm excited for the rest of the books in this series, the next of which I assume will be focused on Seb's friend the Duke of Rotherby, who was a charming character I could definitely stand to see more of!

The description for this book had me reaching for it straight away. It’s not a classic regency romance plot which I figured would make for a fun read. And it was. This book is packed full of romance and longing, with interesting characters and a lot of tension. A lot (it frustrated me slightly).

Our main characters are Grace, a herpetologist and Sebastian, an anthropologist. Bookish friends who spend their time studying scientific passions and going out to exhibits/exhibitions. Quickly into the story Graces father falls ill and beseeches her to find someone to marry (while I object to this, it was part of the time and kind of essential to the story). And so begins the stories escapades.

Grace knows exactly the man she wants to marry, fellow naturalist Mason Fredericks, the only problem is this he doesn’t count Grace amount the marriage-able women of London society. But Sebastian has a plan for that! Which is how Sebastian somehow agrees to let himself be ‘she’s all that’-ed into being a dastardly handsome rake who’s out to pursue Grace (the woman he’s crushing hard on), in order for some other man to realise she’s marriage material (flipping dolt).

From here there’s lots of work to get Sebastian into top rake shape, new clothes, lessons on walking and how to interact with strangers, and along the way Sebastian's friend, Duke Rotherby, gets roped into the shenanigans. I was more than ok with this, I really liked Rotherby’s character, along with the addition of Sebastian’s other friends from Eton entitled the ‘union of rakes’. my favourite part of this book was how Sebastian acted around his friends, he was more relaxed, and I enjoyed him hanging out with the lads. It also added a depth of character to him seeing him away from Grace.

As for the rest of the plot, short giving it all away, we see Sebastian transform into a quality rake who garners more than his fair share of attention, and Grace being Grace, which is to say mostly obtuse - not that Sebastian doesn’t suffer from this as well. He does. She does. I refrain from high-fiveing my own face.

All of this to say, for a Monday afternoon this book was very entertaining. There was a giant heap of romance which is always a good thing, great interactions between Sebastian and his friends and a happy ending.

This is a Regency Romance with a difference.
@ There is plenty of bawdy talk and swearing and sexual escapades occur.
The author does not pretend that all society young women are innocent or
inexperienced.
@ The young women are scientists.
They write papers that are published- though I am not sure how accurate
this is.
@There are mixed races married in respectable' society. Again, I
would like some evidence.
But there are some excellent academic points made about
hypotheses. That they only stand until there is evidence that
they must change if evidence dictates it. And that our biases
influence our beliefs and how we explore the world and science.
And that people (The author says men) only value what
others possess...