RAFE'S REDEMPTION by Jennifer Jakes: Review

Blurb:

He rode into town to buy supplies, not a woman. For hunted recluse Rafe McBride, the raven-haired beauty on the auction block is exactly what he doesn't need. A dependent woman will be another clue his vengeful stepbrother can use to find and kill him. But Rafe's conscience won't let him leave another innocent's virginity to the riff-raff bidding. He buys her, promising to return her to St. Louis untouched. He only prays the impending blizzard holds off before her sultry beauty breaks his willpower. She wanted freedom, not a lover. Whisked to the auction block by her devious, gambling cousin, and then sold into the arms of a gorgeous stranger, outspoken artist Maggie Monroe isn't about to go meekly. Especially when the rugged mountain man looks like sin and danger rolled into one. But a blizzard and temptation thrust them together, and Maggie yearns to explore her smoldering passion for Rafe. But when the snow clears, will the danger and secrets that surround Rafe and Maggie tear them apart?

My Review:

I was hooked by the first chapter of this book. This was the first ‘erotic’ historical fiction novel that I’ve read in awhile. I used to be hooked on them! Then I slowly started reading historical fiction that still had a little sexy stuff going on, but had more of a historical base to it than an erotic.

Maggie and Rafe are the two characters in this novel. They both come from wealthy families, but through different circumstances they end up in a way disowned by their families. Maggie because of a step-brother who was no good, and Rafe because of something he had done during the Civil War. The sexual tension through the first part of the book was pretty intense! I definitely was holding my breath at times because of some of the VERY naughty language. I’m in no way a prude, so it was appealing and not at all disgusting to me. However, if you’re a sexual prude, then obviously don’t pick this book up. If you feel like getting kinda turned on, well then, this book is for you! Lol I won’t lie, when the sexual tension was finally over, and they took it to the next level, the sex scenes and the dialogue between each other AND in their heads was pretty arousing! So if you are into erotic fiction, this is most definitely a book to pick up!

It also has a really good story line, and enough adventure to keep the reader interested. It isn’t all about sex like some erotic novels. The author did an excellent job of making both Maggie and Rafe well-rounded characters, and the reader is rooting for them the whole time. It’s not just about random, gratuitous sex; it’s also about passion and love between two good people. Rafe come across as a hard guy at first, but of course Maggie is able to get through his hard exterior to see the amazing guy he really is.

There are also the antagonists in the story, because you can’t have a good adventure story without someone or several someone’s who are trying to either break up the romantic relationship or are enemies from before and are trying to settle a score. One of these people is Maggie’s step-brother, who is trying to have her killed because he wants to inherit the Monroe fortune, and the other is Simon who is Rafe’s step-brother who is trying to revenge his brother Shane. Shane was a rapist, and Rafe didn’t let him get away with it, so there are scores to be settled, and that adds to the excitement.

The story wasn’t forced at all, yes there were some cliché romance story parts, but honestly, there is no way to write a romance novel without some of the usual romance novel happenings. Jennifer Jakes definitely has a dang good imagination when it comes to describing the sex scenes, wow! I can only hope her own sex life is as amazing as the one she describes! I definitely will be purchasing more novels by her in the future, because this novel has gotten my mind back in the gutter! Lol

I would without a doubt give this novel 5 out of 5 stars.  It was well written, had a great story line, well-researched, and the descriptions were great!

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