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Book review, Dundee, FinnMacCool, Jack Hughes Books, Joh Quinn, Jute, O Halflins and hecklers and Weavers and Weemin, Paul Andruss, Play, Regency, Shehanne Moore, The Writer and the Rake, Thomas the Rhymer, Time-travel
http://www.paul-andruss.com/the-writer-and-the-rake/
Book Review:
The Writer and The Rake
by
Shehanne Moore
I can confirm Shehanne Moore is no Miss Barbara Cartland.
Now there is two ways you can take this news. If you are anything like me it will be with a lusty huzzah and an air punch. I was never one for simpering virgins and sex scenes discretely ending outside the bedroom door.
Shehanne Moore writes historical romance with a sci-fi twist that’s unapologetically smexy. For those who don’t know, smexy (her word, not mine) is a cross between smutty and sexy… raunchy romance in the raw… or is that with a roar? Cos, boy, does the gal deliver!
If you want a complex heroine, so feisty she could bitch slap you in a stand-up row, meet tough but vulnerable Brittany Carter – ‘brittle as porcelain and deadlier than shattered glass. An irresistible combination.’
If you like a ruggedly handsome man, oozing animal magnetism, you can’t go far wrong with Mitchell Killgower. He’s not so tough. Underneath them smouldering looks and icy demeanour beats a heart to make you melt. At least something will be wet by the end of the novel.
By that I mean if a ‘good man who needs saving from himself’ don’t bring a tear to your eye then you are no Brittany Carter – not matter how smexy and gorgeous you are – ‘darling!’
Brittany is a struggling historical romance writer and no simpering virgin. Like most good-looking modern women in their mid-twenties, she’s had her fair share of men; all of them disappointments.
The book opens when a stranger called Morte stops Brittany for her autograph. Or so she thinks.
To be honest she’s not taking much notice. The girl’s got a lot on her mind. Off to straighten out her finances with some crap-head she used to date – he took everything but somehow managed to leave her name on a mortgage he’s not paying.
Morte’s weird, more stalker than fan. As his ominous warning about making the right choice rings in her ears, lightning strikes him. Brittany does the decent thing: calls an ambulance; helps Morte live.
Wrong choice!
Next thing Brittany wakes up in a sixteen year boy’s dusty bed. Wound tight as a cheese wire garrotte, she desperately plays it cool, frantically struggling to keep herself together while figuring out what the hell happened?
The boy’s furious. Handsome dad’s furious too. Not with her; with each other.
All the while she’s praying it’s a nightmare and she’ll wake up. Gradually it dawns. She’s somehow travelled through time, back to 1765 to be precise. To a crumbling stately home in Georgian England and the middle of a bitter inheritance feud between handsome rakish father and puritan unloved son, and with a cow of a sister-in-law holding the purse strings and fuelling the whole debacle.
The Writer and the Rake starts at 100 miles an hour and never flags. It is an unrelenting tour de force; a dazzling pas-de-deux of searing wit and laugh out loud moments between Brittany and Mitchell. The frisson between them is tangible, popping and fizzing across the pages as they slog it out to gain the upper hand, only to have the other snatch it back.
Despite wanting to return to her own time Brittany can’t take her eyes off Mitchell; while he can’t keep his hands off her behind. So, what about Morte? Don’t worry, he’s there too. Intent on sealing his Faustian bargain.
When Mitchell sees Morte with Brittany, he’s jealous as hell of her secret lover. It’s just the spark they need for scorching emotions to boil over into reckless sex. Even if you don’t smoke, you’ll be reaching for that post-coital cigarette Brittany can never have because she ran out in the first few days.
Casual sex has consequences. Hell, Brittany knows that. But she’s not prepared for what they are. Ok it’s not the first time she’s woken in a strange bed. But this one’s oddly familiar. She’s leapfrogged forward to her own time to find she’s been missing for weeks, presumed kidnapped, and her books are now best sellers.
Bingo!
Morte picks his moment to explain it all; a drunken night out with the girls. Apparently she’s a time mutant – the mother of a dynasty. Shame she’s too pissed to take it in.
Talk about sealed with a kiss. One drunken snog with some bloke in the club and Brittany’s back to Mitchell’s crumbling house. Only one thing for it, seduce Mitchell and use the ride of her life to hitchhike through the centuries back to her duly deserved fame and fortune.
Here lies the rub.
Mitchell’s the man she wants, the one she’s been waiting for all her life. She knows it from the moment he sweeps her up in his strong arms and drops her on his big old bed. From the second he unbuttons her bodice, and she his breeches. If only he was from her time. If, if, if…
If this is her last kiss; the last time she can make love for fear of ricocheting through the ages with every orgasm, then there is no one she would rather do it with.
Life’s never that simple, is it Brittany? Not with destiny calling… loud and clear.
The Writer and the Rake is a genre-bending adventure. It confirms Shehanne Moore as an author who know today’s woman is as likely to be into science fiction, playing computer games or watching light porn as reading heavy romance. And Moore’s not afraid to give her readers what they want … without ifs, buts or apologies.
The dialogue is racy, witty and thoroughly modern. This is no cod 18th century comedy of manners. That would get in the way of the lust and punishing pace. Her characters are real: gritty, decent and flawed as the rest of us. And ultimately, as redeemable by love we all are. Though it’s bloody hard work for them sometimes!
And in case you are thinking this is just for the girls, I’d advise you to give it a shot, lads. Cos let’s face it… it does no harm knowing what your woman wants.
Great updates…. When is the play out!? (I guess you have probably said it, but I missed it!)…. An anecdote: The other day, among the people of your friday shout-out I saw the Booklet of the play… It was kind of magical BTW. Great to see the hamsters squad back here. I am sure they´ll be cheering for you when the play is out, regardless of their usual behaviours ha!
Congrats on the reviews, dear She…. Excellent!!!! 😀 Have a beautiful week ahead! ⭐
It is this end of week and weekend Aquileana. So gonna be hectic as we have never run it through yet. So now the cast…who are marvellous, the nicest cast I have ever worked with..are going to have to take that on board, AND the choir. yes we have a wonderful choir run by Alice Marra who is the daughter of a well known Dundee musician (and a musician in her own right) and they will be singing some of his songs , plus one or two others. Tomorrow night at the first rehearsal of all this may be pandemonium… ( I am looking away now, even thinking of going away!!!!) Glad you saw the booklet of the play. There is a 20 page program of ads and other bits of history etc and us. BTO that booklet was the reason the original co withdrew. The madam running them didn’t like the cover and she tried calling my Mr’s bluff. A big mistake. xxxxxx
Truly interesting… Thank you for the great comment back to me here, dear She…. I am sure that everything will be super well. I am wishing you luck, anyway. Cause Luck is always good… and welcomed. Not sure if it is neccesary though! 😉 xxxx
Luck is always good to be wished. Whatever happens we are going out there to have a blast and that is all that matters.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Great post Shey.. the dudes really make me laff!. Hope the play goes brilliantly. Sure it will. Wishing you and Mr a great success. Your mate Paul X
Paul, you helped make this a good post with your fabulous review. Thank you for all the good wishes AND for the lovely review. Meeting myself coming back right now. BUT, will get there x
❤ Thinking good hamster thoughts ( or bad) for much success!!!
LOL. I love the hamster thoughts. Cybele you are lovely xx
🙂
Girl!! I don’t know where you get time to write novels – raunchy or not – with them there hamsters ruling the roost and making demands….. LOVE Piglet and Pooh translated to Scottish – that made me laugh out loud. Hope Mr’s play goes well, it sure does looks pretty intriguing to me. And loved the book review – I figure if I keep reading them I won’t have to mind so much that I can’t lay my hands on it yet. ❤
HEE HEE, re Piglet and Pooh. That was a late addition to the script. Cos the MR and I picked this up at 5 weeks notice after a stand off with the original lot and had to cover a lot ourselves we thought it would be a nice dig, if at the start of act 2 three of the cast came on while we are sort of pretending to pour over the script, and held up these placards which are along the lines of ‘ Not these two again..’ which of course we don’t see but just go right in to the scene. BTO I don’t actually like posting reviews but if a blogger or author has been good enough to blog one then I want to thank them and show their work off too. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I’m enjoying reading the reviews – so as a new fan I am grateful to your other fans. One of the boos about living on the other side of this big round ball is that one can’t pop in to support and enjoy the creativity of others. xoxo
But the world is not such a large place when you have online friends. Wonderful creative in many different ways, friends. I am so so grateful to have met so many people like that on here. Their support has been amazing xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Fab post! Brilliant review and well deserved. The dudes are going to love Mr’s play despite their moaning, though you might have to have one of those placards handy just in case they get out of hand. The ‘heckler’ info is fascinating – never knew that. I wish you huge success with the play. No riots!
I never knew that re the heckler bit either. I have that line re how Dundee gave the word to the world but I thought Mr was just coming it. But it is right enough. And the town was always to the forefront of mouthing off re things even before the jute mills. So it is quite interesting. I mean they were the town who stood up to General Monk, demanding his surrender when he demanded theirs. of course they paid dearly for that little escapade. Lovely to see you and thank you my darling for your kind words xxx
Die Erste Eslarner hugs for the reblog as always xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx https://t.co/dvFO0W5vJY
What a great review! Bestest wishes with the play and enjoyed seeing the cast!
Aw Ka…They are th4e nicest cast I have ever worked with cos generally there’s someone in a cast everyone else wants to kill… Thank you for the lovely good wishes and your lovely comment xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Heehee. As usual the dudes are having fun at your expense Shey. Break a leg and have fun with the play. Sorry I can’t be there to heckle .. so .. BOO ! GET ORF ! lol 😳💘
Hee hee, I would just heckle yi back Ralpha! Them dudes are being wee furry fiends. They better watch I don’t get a tee shirt saying hamster and chase them. xxxxxxxxxxxxx My friend
Such a cute post, Shey. Your grandson is such a character with his sword. Michael has always loved swords and still does, they have just got more expensive and intricate. A fantastic review by Paul. Well done!
He is quite a character Robbie. And he was so enjoying when Mr and I have this fight with two placards he joined in. Then, not content with that he got the sword. mr did not even know he was there. But the funniest bit was how he kept running across the playing area every time the word Halflin —a child who did half a day’s work and half a day’s school — was said. It was like. If I do this nicely I will get a part.’ Michale would probably laugh at our swords, they are plastic and I fear the grandbaby broke one, so it is really not effective during the wee sword fight scene. Oh well.. Thank you re the review. It was lovely of Paul and once again the dudes have you to blame for me posting it…. xxxxx
PS I will calm them down before your interview
Hi Shey, congratulations again on the wonderful review from Paul! As to Donovan, oh now, I didn’t realize when I helped give birth to him that he would take over the world 😉 Whatever are we to do to stop him?!! Perhaps your play will halt him in his tracks! I liked learning more about the Mr.’s play, from the cast photos to the costumes. Hugs xx
Christy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for your kind words. Paul is a doll so he is! Yes, Donovan has become something else. But it is really Silv we should worry about here. Donovan is very peace loving and just aping her. The costumes are basic black trousers and tee shirts each with a pick up word from the title on the front. I had to think of the overall look and also the fact that any attempt to dress up as the many parts everyone plays would not only have taken forever to get that amount of costumes, it would have caused major headaches. This way we hang about at the start in the hall, then we sit ourselves down on one of the machines with the props and suggest costumes and settings with placards, props and hats. Minimalist but still plenty work for everyone. xxxxx
Hi Shey, the good thing about minimalist costumes is that it helps the story being told be the star 🙂 Sometimes huge costumes are so distracting. Yes, Paul’s review is wonderful!!
Aw, you are a an angel Christy B. More than one member of the cast sighed a huge sigh of relief when I said re the costumes. It is so distracting for anyone playing these parts that they lose the biz of lines and things.. I also liked the idea of the ‘uniform’ in a way since it is as tory of workers . xxxxx
Wow! That’s some review my lovely. I am so looking forward to getting to read this book! Love all the smexy! And what’s your little darlin’ boy doin’ beatin’ up the cast? LOL Hammies, stay cool, don’t be jealous. One day you too shall have rave reviews! xoxoxoxo Get me a Tshirt! 🙂 😉
Er…well Paul did highlight the steam…. Which of course is non existent… .ahem. My lil darling came along to a rehearsal with his mam and when I had to slap his granda with a placard which is part of the William Wallace fight scene..we do with placards, as you do, –funnier than swords– he joined in. Then he went and got that sword off the props . THEN he decided to run across the floor every time the word Halflin was used. That ,meant a child who did half a da in the mill and half a day in school. It was like ‘Gimme a part. Hysterical. xx
Dearest Debby, we wills end you a tee shirt saying HAMSTER once we have eaten these other ones.
Love
The dudes
Sooooooooooooo funny! Now, tell me he doesn’t take after his Glamma? 🙂 🙂 xxxxx
With his wonderful manners …of course….. x
Congrats on the ‘hot’ review, Shey 😀
It is nicey spicey x Seriously xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Fantastic post as always Shey.. I have posted Paul’s review on Thursday… brilliant as always and delighted it made the Hamstahs hot under their collars… I am sure that the play will be fabulous and break a leg… hugs xx
Sally, you are a gem. Thank you. THANK YOU. It as lovely of Paul and I am so touched by his words . The dudes got abit hot. I just need to watch they don’t get raunchy… Yep, it has been busy. First of two rehearsals with the choir tonight. Oh aye, to add to it all we have a choir run by musician Alice Marra singing some of her late father Michael’s songs plus some other bits and pieces. As this will also be our first proper run through I will well be begging everyone’s patience. Laughing at the break a leg bit. Yesterday, I worked in this biz in this riot march scene, where we we were all stamping on the floor, stamp stamp stamp, chanting ‘ We’re gonnae win and we’re gonna pit their windies in.’ Alas it is the original stone floor and I have a gammy ankle…. I might stamp a bit less tonight…… xx
As they say .. it will be alright on the night.. strap up the ankle and I am sure in the flush of success there will be no pain…. hugs xxxxxxx
LOL, I have once been on stage with a strapped up ankle. Then there was the time I fell eight feet out of the technician’s box, just before the play started, put my foot right through my shoe, tore all the tendons in my ankle and chipped the bone, hobbled to the dressing room, went onstage barefoot cos couldn’t get the shoe back on and yep sod’s law, as with the time I had the sprain, lightning struck twice. Someone stood on it. I thought I was going to die…… Fortunately that was the end of that run anyway.
Those hamsters need to warn those who have not yet read the novel, that Paul has written an excellent summary of the novel, complete with spoilers! I thoroughly enjoyed his review, as I’ve already read the book, but…
By the way, Shea, I loved the picture of grand-kid about to assault a cast member. Just the sort of thing my grandson would do! xxxxxxxxx
PS Typo — Shey, I mean, not Shea. Makes you sound like body butter!
Ha ha ha…I melt upon you…Or maybe even melt aporn you xxxxx As for the grandkid….. he just did his own thing His Mam took that pic unknown to us xxxx Ps my other gilr said, git the dudes so say spoilers…. xx
I just looked up the name Shea in my writer’s character name source book. It’s a male Irish name that means “majestic” so you can don a suit of armour and surcoat that bears your royal crest, and dub me with your sword instead of melting upon me! I can’t find the name Shehanne, only Sheehan, also male Irish and meaning “little peaceful one”.
So is the name Shehanne a pen name, or is it a real name that the author of my reference book was remiss in omitting?
And my last question for the time being (writers are by nature full of curiosity): which name do you prefer your fellow bloggers to call you by — Shehanne, Shey, or Majestic Shea Butter? 😉 Just thought I’d ask, because sometimes people take the liberty of shortening someone’s name without asking them first if that’s okay? I’ve heard from someone in Bristol, that people there have a habit of peeling names down to the shortest possible version. So I would be called Sa and you would be called … well, Shey, probably! xxxx
Lol, Shey of course, Sa. The dudes shorten everything except their whines. I do love Sa. It’s kind of posh but if you lengthen the a slightly, quite majestic too. Now we can both wave swords. The plastic ones are not too heavy or dangerous. They are not very strong either mind you. Being a little gentle one you can tell I am very peace loving. NOT. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thnak you so much dear for sharing fascinating post
Have a very nice week
Kisses
Have a lovely week too my darling. Thank you xxxxxx
You are very welcome dear
Kisses
Aw….. Kisses to you xxxx
Die Erste Erslarner… Bizmarc xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for the reblog https://t.co/eWTgXKbNWB
Shey, I really enjoy your multi-faceted posts. This one in particular was quite entertaining with a photo of your grandson, information about Mr.’s play (hope it went well), the Hamster godmother (my favorite!), the colorful language, and the great review of your book. Congratulations, great post.
LOL and here was me thinking this post is really scrappy. So the day is off to a good start Ann with your comment . A very good start. The play is the next three days, so believe me I need that good start. Thank you my lovely lady, you are a darling and I do love Paul’s review xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
May you break all the legs and arms and other unknown appendages possible for a raucous of a run! And who IS that winged hamster wonder? Hope Silv doesn’t have access to a bat… 😉
Oh, and the review’s wonderful–like it couldn’t be anything else when it comes to your books, O Lovely Lady Shey. 😉 xxxxxxxxxxx
Thathamster is the hamster Godmother. She has not been around for a bit. Silv was her defender way back when the other ones were saying it sure looks like Shorty hamster to me. The play? Well the play that went out last night was not the one Mr wrote as such. But tonight we hope the right one will go out…. Hugs for your kind comment Lady jean xxx
Ah, so Silv to the rescue! I hope the hamster Godmother can stay a while.
I’ll cross my fingers, knock on wood, and turn thrice widdershins for the right one to go out tonight! xxxxxxx
OMG one of the play is widdershins fae auld reekie .. The godmother first featured a few years back on Halloween. I may well put her calming influence back out there xxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for the reblog https://t.co/28QQwEXM4l Die Erste xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A great read – as per ever. I like the little guy about to slice the big blokes legs off. Nice touch for a play. I’ve been away and just got back, hence I missed this before. The old man’s not fit at the moment – he had one of his much heralded falls, this time on solid stone. Looks like he’s the loser in a world title fight.
Hee hee, that’s our wee dude there with the sword. Your dad? Never. It looked like you were all having a great time. xx
The little guy is one of yours? He should audition for the next Luke Skywalker. As to dad, he to has fall last hour of the last evening. I think dear mother is taking some snaps of his injuries. He does look a mess – in a good way.
The dude is our grandbaby. We won’t set him ou yir dad I swear, he is already in abad enough way xxxxxxxxxxx
I intended to start on WP on 1st July yet as I am wounded in battle (I see Lurkio has already announced my demise far and wide) and can but stare at a screen (now cursed with a squad horizontal floaters grazing across the left eyeball) I thought where better to start again than with the lovely Ms S.
I did see you Mike. I hope the floor came off worse. So LOVELY to see you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Get well xxx
I wish I could see your Mr.’s play! Well, at least I learned about where the word heckler comes from and that it’s hamsters every day… at least it is on this blog, which is why I love it. Talk soon, xxxxx
I am going to do a wee post with some pics and hopefully a little vid footage….. See tht though yah learns somefing new every day xxxx
Shey, I see I’m late in commenting so hope the play went really well!! I’m in awe of anyone able to get up on stage! Also, wow! What a terrific review, many congratulations!! 😀😀
Hee hee…don’t worry. I have been late a few times to this last week too. Lovely to see you, thank you for the kind comment and as you a saw we had a play and a half x
Fell in love with this post…💙💙💙💙
Eliza that is do kind xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and I heart you x
Oh, my wow!! I don’t have the writer and the rake! Oh, no!
I will keep going with my set summer reading pile but remain your adoring fan and faithful friend! xo 💖
Aw, I am your adoring friend my darling You should know that xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I am your devoted member of your fan club. . . 😁 👏 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Aw That is so sweet. You have made my day xxx