Sir Barnabas’s Will requires granddaughter Nerissa Wingate and godson Miles Courtenay to live together chastely in his house for six months in order to inherit his estate. He assumed they’ll fail. Fuming but penniless, they accept the challenge, but a host of hopeful relatives is determined to throw them into each other’s arms, and Sir Barnabas’s cantankerous ghost lends a hand!
Its that time of year for a little paranormal in the romance. The Actress and the Rake offers that: just a little paranormal with an otherwise sweet, traditional romance.
Sir Barnabas has designed a nasty scheme for determining his heirs, and is sticking around in ghostly form to ensure his wicked plan is actualized. This includes making his godson, a rakehell, and his granddaughter (who he has never met) get it on.
Unfortunately for Sir Barnabas, despite her upbringing in the Theater Nerissa is a young lady that has no interest in hopping in Miles’ bed…even if he does give her butterflies. Nerissa is not in the common way of his interest (mostly voluptuous actresses and opera singers) but she does need a hand navigating how to manage a household.
There is growth from both the H/H, some laughs, an ensemble of other relatives trying to help the two fail. Its a quickly digested, light read with the oddball addition of a ghost who watches all and tries to intervene.
This is a provincial, traditional romance where most of the action takes place at the estate among those vying for the inheritance. Kisses only, and limited mature content with a few exceptions to mistresses and dalliances, and some talk of gambling.
Not one of my favorite Dunn’s but still a solid read nonetheless. I didn’t love the pairing of the H/H, and the romance was subtle (like many Dunn’s) so other readers will find it lacking. However, as far as light paranormal for the Season, it was enjoyable and put me in the Halloween spirit.
This book is also alternatively published as The Lady and the Rake.
3.5 out of 6 A ghost intervenes in this otherwise traditional romance of opposites attract
| Content Rating/Heat Index | |
|---|---|
| Mature Content |   |
| Mild mentions of adult subject matter | |
| Intimacy | |
| Limited kissing. | |
| Violence | |
| A couple of scrapes and falls | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Appropriate for most ages.. | |
