Review: Days of Rakes and Roses by Anna Campbell

Days of Rakes and Roses by Anna Campbell
Series: Sons of Sin, Book 0.5
Publisher: Forever Yours
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: July 2, 2013
ISBN: 9781455576289
Buy it here: Amazon | B&N

Scandal has long followed Lady Lydia Rothermere’s family, which is why she tries desperately to follow society’s rules to a T. Now engaged to a man perfectly suited to her needs, Lydia can see her life laid out before her. If part of her rebels at the notion of living without passion, well, then she can at least find comfort in the fact that she is upholding her family name. Then a man from her past appears, threatening to derail Lydia’s plans.

Simon Metcalf’s name is synonymous with sin and for ten years Lydia has tried to forget her love for him…and the way their desire for one another had nearly ruined her. Simon’s return to London sends Lydia’s emotions into a tailspin and before long she’s forced to make a choice: stay safe and marry a man who’s all wrong for her or court scandal by risking her heart for the only man she’s ever loved.

True love can’t be denied in Days of Rakes and Roses. Lydia and Simon are a couple whose burgeoning romance was cut short once upon a time by Lydia’s father, and since that fateful day Lydia has tried to be the model of propriety. Needless to say, she’s thrown for a loop when Simon reinserts himself into her life right before her wedding to another man. I love Lydia and Simon together, yet even though it’s clear they’re a far better fit than Lydia and her fiancé, she can’t simply throw caution to the wind and break her engagement. Anna Campbell makes Lydia’s dilemma compelling, and though I won’t spoil the story by revealing the obstacles in Lydia and Simon’s path, I will say that I avidly read Days of Rakes and Roses, wanting to see how things would work out.

Days of Rakes and Roses can be read as a standalone, but it is part of Ms. Campbell’s Sons of Sin series (chronologically it comes before the first book, Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed). Lydia is the sister of future Sons of Sin hero Camden, and eagle-eyed readers might remember Cam briefly mentioning Lydia and her “new husband” in Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed. Cam plays a large supporting role in Days of Rakes and Roses and I loved learning more about his character, though now I want to read his book more than ever. As for the other Sons of Sins heroes, Jonas is briefly mentioned and Richard, hero of the upcoming A Rake’s Midnight Kiss, dazzles whenever he appears on the page.

Anna Campbell is a supremely talented author whose books never fail to entertain. Days of Rakes and Roses is a compelling story fans of historical romance are sure to adore.