About the Book:

The rake has a proposition…

Will she accept?

Part of The Sinful Sinclairs: When globe-trotting Charles Sinclair arrives at Huxley Manor to sort out his late cousin’s affairs, he meets practical Eleanor Walsh. He can’t shake the feeling that behind her responsibility to clear her family’s debt, Eleanor longs to escape her staid life. Chase can offer her an exciting adventure in Egypt… But that all depends on her response to his shocking proposal!

Click on title below for direct Amazon buy link:                                              The Rake’s Enticing Proposal (The Sinful Sinclairs Book 2)

My Review:

Charles “Chase” Sinclair is on a mission to go through his late cousin’s (Huxley’s’) papers, hoping to find some clues to a cryptic letter he received before Huxley died. In the letter, Huxley hinted at some important information he discovered, with secrecy being crucial.  Chase discovers a young woman, who also appears to be looking through Huxley’s papers, and he challenges her, only to find that she’s Eleanor Walsh, the fiancée of Huxley’s heir, his cousin Henry.

Ellie is, in fact, only pretending to be engaged to Henry, a dear friend of hers, in order to shield him from the matchmaking machinations of his aunt.  In return for Ellie’s pretense, he will help her financially once he determines the status of his new estate and fully takes over the reins.  Ellie’s father died scandalously, leaving Ellie and her four younger siblings in a perilous financial situation.  They have been scraping along, but last year’s failed crops have brought them near to being destitute.

While Henry is busy, trying to learn about his property, Ellie is tasked with helping Chase sort through Huxley’s paperwork and possessions.  It turns out that some of Huxley’s journals are missing, and that passages have been mysteriously cut out of a set of books.  Somehow, the trail indicates that Huxley’s secretary was involved, and that Chase may have to travel back to Egypt to follow the clues.

While Chase and Ellie are sorting through Huxley’s paperwork, they quickly develop a friendship, with Ellie being fascinated by Chase’s previous adventures and travel experiences.  Her own life has been limited to her little corner of the world, and she can only imagine what it would be like to travel.  Soon they are comfortable enough with each other for Ellie to confess the true status of the engagement, and her family’s sorry state of affairs.  Chase can only sympathize at Ellie’s burden, and he’s well aware of the ramifications of having a scandalous father.

When everything has been sorted, it’s time for Ellie to return home, and for Chase to make arrangements to go to Egypt.  Chase is somewhat confused about his feelings for Ellie.  He knows that he doesn’t want to part from her, and he’d love to help her.  But, how?  The answer comes to him, as he arranges to help with Ellie’s family debt, secretly, or so he thinks.  Ellie is no fool, and immediately realizes what Chase has done.  She’s grateful and incensed at the same time.  Chase then offers her the chance to travel to Egypt with his party, as companion to his sister, Sam.  Again, Ellie feels that she is the beneficiary of Chase’s charity, but he eventually talks her into accepting the offer.

The journey to Egypt has Chase and Ellie becoming closer than ever, with an undeniable attraction building higher and more intensely.  Ellie realizes that she’s falling in love, but Chase can’t identify his feelings.  What does he know of love?  The only affection he’s had has been with his siblings.  And even if he were to pursue the relationship further, Ellie (he thinks) longs for a stable home while he is a wanderer with no roots.  Sometimes Chase even resents his own feelings, causing him to say hurtful things to Ellie that he really doesn’t mean.

Lara Temple paints a vivid picture of Egypt, a wonderful backdrop for the beautiful romance that’s developing.  In THE RAKE’S ENTICING PROPOSAL, each character feels they’re not adequate enough for the other, but in reality, they are a perfect match.  Chase is truly a loving, kind, and generous man, while Ellie is strong and more than willing to add a little adventure to her life.  The exotic location is not one normally seen in historical romance, and it added a little something extra to this well written and heart touching story.  This book two of the Sinful Sinclairs series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first book, which I loved, as well, and is the story of Chase’s brother, Lucas.    ~Rose