The Rake

A man's past doesn't have to map his fate, especially when a woman holds the key to his destiny in this timeless novel by "New York Times" bestselling author and legend in historical romance "Mary Jo Putney"...Disinherited and disgraced, Reginald Davenport's prospects cried for a dire end. But fate has given him one last chance at redemption - by taking his rightful place as the heir of Strickland, his lost ancestral estate. Davenport knows his way around women, yet nothing prepares him for his shocking encounter with Lady Alys Weston. Masquerading as a man in order to obtain a position as estate manager of Strickland, Alys fled a world filled with mistrust and betrayal. She was finished with men - until Strickland's restored owner awakens a passion she thought she would never feel. A passion that will doom or save them both ...if only they can overcome their pasts... About the Author Mary Jo Putney graduated from Syracuse University with degrees in eighteenth-century literature and industrial design. A New York Times bestselling author, she has won numerous awards for her writing, including two Romance Writers of America RITA Awards, four consecutive Golden Leaf awards for Best Historical Romance, and the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Historical Romance. She was the keynote speaker at the 2000 National Romance Writers of America Conference. Ms. Putney lives in Baltimore, Maryland. Visit her Web site at www.maryjoputney.com. A woman holds the key to one man's destiny in this classic Regency romance from the legendary New York Times bestselling author. Disinherited and disgraced, Reginald Davenport's prospects cried for a dire end. But fate has given him one last chance at redemption—by taking his rightful place as the heir of Strickland, his lost ancestral estate. Davenport knows his way around women, yet nothing prepares him for his shocking encounter with Lady Alys Weston. Masquerading as a man in order to obtain a position as estate manager of Strickland, Alys fled a world filled with mistrust and betrayal. She was finished with men—until Strickland's restored owner awakens a passion she thought she would never feel. A passion that will doom or save them both . . . if only they can overcome their pasts . . . Praise for Mary Jo Putney "Putney's endearing characters and warm-hearted stories never fail to inspire and delight." —Sabrina Jeffries "A complex maze of a story twisted with passion, violence, and redemption. Miss Putney just gets better and better." —Nora Roberts "A gifted writer with an intuitive understanding of what makes romance work." —Amanda Quick "No one writes historical romance better." —Cathy Maxwell "Dynamite!" —Laura Kinsale A man's past doesn't have to map his fate, especially when a woman holds the key to his destiny in this timeless novel by New York Times bestselling author and legend in historical romance Mary Jo Putney. . . Disinherited and disgraced, Reginald Davenport's prospects cried for a dire end. But fate has given him one last chance at redemption?by taking his rightful place as the heir of Strickland, his lost ancestral estate. Davenport knows his way around women, yet nothing prepares him for his shocking encounter with Lady Alys Weston. Masquerading as a man in order to obtain a position as estate manager of Strickland, Alys fled a world filled with mistrust and betrayal. She was finished with men?until Strickland's restored owner awakens a passion she thought she would never feel. A passion that will doom or save them both. . .if only they can overcome their pasts. . . "An enduring classic. . .a towering landmark in romantic fiction that is quite simply the very best of the best." ? Romantic Times "No one writes historical romance better." ?Cathy Maxwell