A Rakish Christmas Blog Hop– Rake’s Tell All
The holiday season can be a stressful time. Take a break with notable rakes Benedict DeBreed (Craving the Rake’s Touch by Bronwyn Scott), Ross Thornbury (The Rake’s Handbook by Sally Orr), Alex Knight (Twice Tempted by Eileen Dreyer), Richard Barrett, Lord Hartley (A Rake by Any Other Name by Mia Marlowe), Damian Beaumaris, Duke of Cirencester (The Rake’s Bargain by Lucy Ashford) and “Lucky” Luke Wainwright (Sinfully Ever After by Jayne Fresina) as they tell us how they celebrate Christmas with their special someone.
Benedict DeBreed (Craving the Rake’s Touch): This year, we will be at her home with her younger brother, Teddy, her sister, and her mother. We will be in charge of all the festivities. Our home is under renovation just a few miles away and her mother needs us. We’re all about family. But I have a special moment planned for us Christmas night when everyone is tucked in from celebrating. Shh, don’t tell her but I had a special charm bracelet commissioned that will tell the story of our family in years to come. Currently, there is one charm on it: a candle that stands for hope—the hope of our unborn child and the hope that she has always been to me.
Ross Thornbury (The Rake’s Handbook): Christmas day starts with a trip to church and ends with a grand feast. During the day, Elinor tries to stop my bad habit of going down to the kitchens to taste . . . inspect the progress of the various dishes. As master of the house, who but me should inspect the roast goose, mince meat pies, and Christmas pudding? After dinner, I will feign an upset stomach and suggest we retire to our bedchamber. Then I will quickly recover, so we can exchange the most intimate of joy-filled gifts.
Alex Knight (Twice Tempted): First with all of my extended family and her small one. Fiona and her sister Mairead have spent too many years trying to scrape by with only each other for comfort and support, Christmas lost to survival. It is time they learned what Christmas can be with all your loved ones about you. Later, though, she and I will retreat to our room where we will have a private celebration that involves champagne, that lovely nightrail and her gems, and later, just the gems as we start our own family in the most pleasant of ways.
Richard Barrett, Lord Hartley (A Rake by Any Other Name): Regrettably, Sophie and I won’t have the luxury of being alone. The Barrett family will gather in Somerfield Park around a blazing fire while the wind roars off the nearby North Sea. We’ll sip wassail and if my friend Lawrence Seymour is with us, it will be liberally spiked with spirits. My sisters will provide entertainment. Petra will torment the piano-forte while Ella and Ariel attempt to harmonize on carols. I said they’d be entertaining. I didn’t promise they’d be good. At some point in the evening, I’ll catch Sophie’s eye from across the room. We’ll exchange a knowing look—a look that says, “You are you, and I am I, and together we make the best We possible.” It’ll also say, “When can you plead a headache? I’m dying to get you into bed.”
Damian Beaumaris, Duke of Cirencester (The Rake’s Bargain): I always used to spend Christmas in London, doing the things rich single men are meant to do – drinking and partying with all my friends. But Deb has persuaded me that I’m going to enjoy most of all just the simple things of Christmas, like waking up on Christmas morning to hear the church bells ringing, and seeing our guests’ children examining their gifts.
“Lucky” Luke Wainwright (Sinfully Ever After): Since we’ve both done more than our fair share of travelling, I’d like us to stay by a warm fire, cozy as can be, and just watch through the window to see snow falling. We’ll share a cup of wine. Hopefully, Becky won’t start singing.
To hear more from these rakes pick up their stories!
Benedict DeBreed (Craving the Rake’s Touch by Bronwyn Scott)
Ross Thornbury (The Rake’s Handbook by Sally Orr)
Alex Knight (Twice Tempted by Eileen Dreyer)
Lord Hartley (A Rake by Any Other Name by Mia Marlowe)
The Duke of Cirencester (The Rake’s Bargain by Lucy Ashford)
“Lucky” Luke Wainwright (Sinfully Ever After by Jayne Fresina)
all sound like fun!
You’re right Doris. All of these great romances sound like fun! Happy reading. Sally
Looks like a lot of good reading. Hope to get some good reading in this week.