About Our Reviewers

ABOUT CAROL (REVIEWER AND FOUNDER OF RAKES AND RASCALS)

Carol Cork

I’m a young-at-heart 74 year old retiree living in the small town of Penarth, South Wales, UK. I do have all the amenities of a city nearby as Cardiff (the capital of Wales) is only four miles away. I have been married to Colin for 48 years and have one son, Gareth. I love reading, walking, cooking and adore the classic movies of the 1930s and 1940s and musicals.

My favourite genres are Historical Romance, Historical Fiction and Historical Mystery but I also enjoy contemporary thrillers.

ABOUT WENDY (GUEST REVIEWER)

wendy

My name is Wendy and I live in an apartment in Cheltenham. I am mother to two and grandmother to four. I love theatre, cinema, music, cooking, sewing, history and BOOKS. I have some great blogger friends to thank for starting me on the road to reviewing and now I am hooked! Thanks to Carol, Caz and Barbara. My list of preferred authors is too numerous to mention but hopefully my favourites will soon show up on my lovely friend’s Rakes and Rascals blog.

61 Comments »

61 Responses

on September 24, 2012 at 11:59 am | Reply thebooksandbrandblog

Hi, nice blog over here! 🙂
- on September 24, 2012 at 12:15 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  Hi, thanks! I’m new to blogging and so pleased to know you like it.
  - on September 24, 2012 at 1:33 pm thebooksandbrandblog
    
    your welcome! i love historical romance too. i love lisa kleypas 🙂 . I love chatting about books, and someday i wish to have a blog like yours, a book review blog!
on September 24, 2012 at 3:28 pm | Reply carolcork

Oh, Lisa Kleypas is my favourite author as well! I have quite a few more reviews to post besides Dream Lake. I just need more hours in the day! I’m enjoying the Friday Harbor series but I can’t wait for her to go back to her historicals.

I don’t know whether you’ve read any of Courtney Milan’s books. She’s an author I’ve recently discovered and her books are now auto-buys. There are reviews of the first three Turner series books on the blog if you want to take a look.

I’m not really into erotica but Victoria Vane’ s The Devil DeVere series I can really recommend. They do contain erotic content but she is such a good writer that I didn’t let that put me off. Again I have reviews posted if you want to get a feel for her style and writing.
on November 18, 2012 at 10:31 pm | Reply La Deetda Reads

I see that we like many of the same authors. I’ll be checking back often for recommendations.
on November 18, 2012 at 11:27 pm | Reply carolcork

Hi Dot! Thanks for dropping by and hope you find some good recommendations!
on January 3, 2013 at 12:37 am | Reply Bookworm

Welcome to the Blogger World!

I am impressed with your reviews! They are so fun to read and I see that you and I have lots in common…

Good luck with the blog!

XO

Mel
- on January 3, 2013 at 1:00 am | Reply carolcork
  
  Thank you for your kind comments about my reviews and your good wishes, Mel!
on March 4, 2013 at 8:18 pm | Reply oldfossil

Hi Carol, are you related to Steve at http://scienceofdoom.com/ ?

Because you share the same cover picture. Maybe he’s a romantic!
- on March 4, 2013 at 10:12 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  No, he’s just using the same free WordPress custom design as me! LOL!
on March 23, 2013 at 11:06 am | Reply ruth72

Hi Carol, I’m so glad you came to my blog, because it means I’ve found yours 🙂 You have a lovely blog here, I’m looking forward to reading more of it. I see you are reading Lord of Pleasure at the moment – I very much enjoyed Mistress of Pleasure, which I think was the first book in the series.
- on March 23, 2013 at 12:45 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  Thank you so much, Ruth! I discovered your blog through reading your review of Mistress of Pleasure. I’ve finished reading Lord of Pleasure and IMO it’s even better than MoP. I’m writing a review at the moment and hope to post it shortly. As you can probably tell from my reviews, I love historical romances. LOL! I got so caught up reading your movie reviews that I haven’t had time yet to read your book reviews except for MoP. What’s your favourite genre?
  
  It was great to find someone with similar movie tastes to myself and I’m still working my way through your reviews!
  
  I wonder if I could ask you a technical question? You have quite a few headers on your blog and I want to put headers on mine for my Review Ratings and Sensuality Ratings but I can’t figure out how to do it. How did you create your additional headers?
on May 15, 2013 at 12:47 am | Reply Romance Reader Girl

Your blog is so awesome, Carol! I love it!! Thank you for following mine! 🙂
- on May 15, 2013 at 5:53 am | Reply carolcork
  
  Thank you, Lindsey! A big thank you to you for introducing me to the lovely and charming Renee Bernard!
  - on May 15, 2013 at 2:52 pm Romance Reader Girl
    
    You’re Welcome!
    Renee is wonderful and you’ll love her stories! I promise!
on May 15, 2013 at 10:59 pm | Reply carolcork

Lindsey, Renee is pretty awesome because she sent me a copy of Revenge Wears Rubies as a gift because she thought I sounded such a nice person. What a lovely and gracious lady she is.
- on June 19, 2013 at 3:51 pm | Reply leslie
  
  You are a lovely gracious lady Carol… I’m snooping around in here lol ;0) looking forward to reading more of your stuff
  - on June 19, 2013 at 4:00 pm carolcork
    
    Thank you so much, Leslie! *blushing* Snoop around to your heart’s content and I hope you find plenty to enjoy. I try to include some non-book related posts which I hope are interesting to my readers.
on October 21, 2013 at 2:47 pm | Reply Great English Country Houses | And Then He Kissed Her

[…] you fascinated by the enormous country houses of the old aristocracy? Check out Carol Cork‘s article about Longleat House in Warminster. Then check out her whole […]
- on October 21, 2013 at 2:50 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  Thank you so much, Cora. 🙂
on October 29, 2013 at 11:07 am | Reply Elizabeth Ellen Carter

Hi Carol,
I was wondering if your blog was still open to accepting books (e-books) to review?

Without going into the full spiel here, if you are open, please do let me know what material you would need to receive.

Kindest Regards,
Elizabeth
- on October 29, 2013 at 12:39 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  I have sent you an email, Elizabeth. 🙂
on November 2, 2013 at 6:05 pm | Reply Eileen Dandashi

I loved your blog–very informative and nicely designed. It’s my first time here.
- on November 2, 2013 at 6:10 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  Eileen, thank you for taking the trouble to comment on my blog. I am thrilled that you love it! 🙂
on January 23, 2014 at 9:09 pm | Reply Melissa

Hello, I’m wondering if you are interested in reading an e-book for a review?

thanks,
Melissa
on January 23, 2014 at 11:22 pm | Reply carolcork

I have sent you an email, Melissa. 🙂
on February 18, 2014 at 11:51 pm | Reply Blithely Bookish Reviews (Ruth)

I love your blog, Carol! Very nice!
- on February 19, 2014 at 12:01 am | Reply carolcork
  
  Thank you, Ruth (aka Dhes). 🙂
on May 27, 2014 at 9:53 am | Reply ThroughTheLookingGlassAndDownTheRabbitHole

Your blog is just fabulous 🙂 I must admit I have a soft spot for romance novels 😉 I keep meaning to start the Knight Trilogy but I’m afraid once I start I won’t be able to put it down for the thrill, ha ha.
- on May 27, 2014 at 4:13 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  So pleased you love the blog, Vanessa. I’m really hooked on historical romances as you can probably guess! Do you mean the Knight Miscellany by Galen Foley? If so, it is one of my all time favourite series and highly recommended.
  - on May 28, 2014 at 11:45 am ThroughTheLookingGlassAndDownTheRabbitHole
    
    Ooh I meant the one by C.C. Gibbs. I found it in Waterstone’s in London, around the same area 50 Shades is usually found in 😉
    Once I’m done with that I will definitely look into the series you’ve recommended 😀
- on May 28, 2014 at 4:38 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  Vanessa, Knight Miscellany is among my favourite Historical Romance series ever.
on June 20, 2014 at 8:12 pm | Reply lizzieashworth

Hi! I’m trying to track down copyright info on a photo posted on another site but credited to you and this page. I’d like to use it for a book cover. It’s at http://ladeetdareads.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/sexy-man-tuesday-dont-deny-it-youve-missed-it/, the first image shown. Please contact me directly at ashworthlizzie@gmail.com. And THANKS!
on August 13, 2014 at 1:50 pm | Reply wilcoxr06

Hi Carol! I am interested in mentioning your blog on a post that will hopefully be used on the following site: http://www.readaromancemonth.com/
I wanted to check with you first and make sure that’s ok! Thanks!
- on August 13, 2014 at 2:00 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  I would be thrilled to be mentioned on your site!
on September 21, 2014 at 9:06 pm | Reply jo bourne (@jobourne)

Hi Carol Cork — I’d like to send you an e-copy of my latest book for review.
- on September 22, 2014 at 1:23 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  Hi Joanna, could you please email me at carolcork@live.co.uk with the details of your book. Many thanks. Carol 🙂
on December 10, 2014 at 3:08 pm | Reply jessrussellromance

Carol,
First off, love, love, love the title of your blog site! So fun poking around. I heard of you through my critique partner, Collette Cameron. As a writer I am always looking for new authors to read (though I have my favorites) I look forward to stopping in to get your take on your newest Rake or Rascal!
- on December 10, 2014 at 5:45 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  Hi, Jess! Thank you so much for stopping by Rakes and Rascals and hope I can provide you with some ideas for new authors to read. My blog obviously reflects my own favourite authors but I do spotlight new-to-me authors from time to time as well. Feel free to comment on any of the posts.
on April 24, 2015 at 6:14 am | Reply debloumac

Carol, this is really nice. I just discovered it.
- on April 24, 2015 at 6:22 am | Reply carolcork
  
  Thank you so much, Debbie. 😊
on September 3, 2015 at 12:25 pm | Reply SomewhereLostInBooks

Hi! I’ve nominated your blog for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award! https://somewherelostinbooks.wordpress.com/2015/09/03/sisterhood-of-world-bloggers-award/
on September 5, 2015 at 7:16 pm | Reply Katinka

I have nominated you for the Sisterhood of World Bloggers Award! https://unquietlyme.wordpress.com/2015/09/05/sisterhood-of-world-bloggers-award/
on October 27, 2015 at 5:11 pm | Reply The Reading Chick

Hello Carol, Thank you for the like on my blog. As I have just started blogging it is a huge boost to have a wonderful blogger Like what I am writing.
- on October 27, 2015 at 10:53 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  You are most welcome. I started Rakes and Rascals three years ago and know how I felt in the first few months. I was overjoyed when I had a few people like my blog and it simply snowballed from there. 🙂
on November 8, 2015 at 3:19 pm | Reply Amanda Mariel

I just had to stop in and say hello, Carol!
- on November 8, 2015 at 3:37 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  Thank you so much for stopping by, Amanda. 🙂
on January 26, 2016 at 3:54 pm | Reply Disney Book Tag! | Chick's,Rogue's and Scandal's

[…] Carol : @RakesandRascals […]
on January 26, 2016 at 3:58 pm | Reply The Reading Chick

I Carol, I don’t know if you interested but I have just Tagged you for he Disney Book Tag. https://chicksroguesandscandals.wordpress.com/2016/01/26/disney-book-tag/
- on January 26, 2016 at 4:50 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  Thank you, Frankie. This sounds like an interesting one to do, although it might take me a while to select the books and post it. 😊
  - on January 26, 2016 at 5:26 pm The Reading Chick
    
    That’s exactly what i thought when I was Tagged to do it, it’s an interesting concept and it is fun to do.
on May 15, 2016 at 9:58 am | Reply Cynthia Chan

Hi! Do you have any suggestion for time travel ( to the past) sizzling/hot romance books? Thanks.
- on May 15, 2016 at 11:52 am | Reply carolcork
  
  Cynthia, unfortunately this is not a genre I read but, if you belong to Goodreads, there is sure to be a list of recommended time travel books.
- on May 25, 2016 at 7:34 pm | Reply davidlyons7
  
  Hi Cynthia…..You could read my new book The Dream Voyagers by David Lyons it should satisfy your interest in time travel. http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Dream-Voyagers-David-Lyons/dp/0993190979
on May 25, 2016 at 12:50 pm | Reply davidlyons7

Hi Carol……Thank you for liking The Dream Voyagers on Twitter. I really appreciate it…………….David
on January 1, 2017 at 4:36 pm | Reply vinnieh

You’ve got a good thing going here.
- on January 1, 2017 at 7:42 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  Thank you for your feedback, Vinnieh.
  - on January 1, 2017 at 7:43 pm vinnieh
    
    Anytime, I will definitely return to your blog. Please check mine out, I mainly review movies.
  - on January 1, 2017 at 8:44 pm carolcork
    
    I’m delighted to hear that, Vinnieh. I will certainly check out your blog, although my first love is the movies of the 1930s and 1940s.
on January 1, 2017 at 8:59 pm | Reply vinnieh

I’ve covered a quite a few film from the 30s and 40s.
- on January 1, 2017 at 9:24 pm | Reply carolcork
  
  That’s great and I will definitely be interested to reading your reviews. 🙂