Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart by Sarah MacLean

Setting: Regency 1823

*Third in Love By Numbers trilogy*

Summary:

She lives for passion

Bold, impulsive, and a magnet for trouble, Juliana Fiori is no simpering English miss. She refuses to play by society’s rules: she speaks her mind, cares nothing for the approval of the ton, and can throw a punch with remarkable accuracy. Her scandalous nature makes her a favorite subject of London’s most practiced gossips…and precisely the kind of woman the Duke of Leighton wants far far away from him.

He swears by reputation.

Scandal is the last thing Simon Pearson has room for in his well-ordered world. The Duke of Disdain is too focused on keeping his title untainted and his secrets unknown. But when he discovers Juliana hiding in his carriage late one evening–risking everything he holds dear–he swears to teach the reckless beauty a lesson in propriety.

She has other plans, however; she wants two weeks to prove that even an unflappable duke is not above passion.

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Review:

I loved Nine Rules, was disappointed with Ten Ways and really hoped that Eleven Scandals would show me once again why I loved Sarah MacLean. I’m very happy to say that this was a book that did credit to Sarah and I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet, touching (and spicy!) opposites attract story!

Juliana, the heroine, is the outspoken Italian miss who’s scandalous past makes her stand out among the English roses of high society. Readers who have followed the series from book one know just how outrageous she is with her impulsive speech and how lovable she is with her lack of knowledge of English phrases and her insecurity about fitting in. From book one, I wanted this spunky, yet secretly vulnerable heroine to get her own book and was so excited when this book came out!

Simon, our greatly esteemed duke is the perfect match for our feisty heroine and the sparks are there every time these two meet! He’s obsessed with propriety but secretly guards a hidden passionate nature to match hers It was hard liking this stuck-up, snobbish, self-righteous hero but thankfully he turned out ok in the end! So she’s too improper and he’s too proper-so you know these two have got things to teach other. A lot like Pride and Prejudice, the story features opposites who bicker and duel but end up learning things from each other and end up happily ever after. (Oh wait, that was a spoiler! )

And like Nine Rules, the story was unpredictable enough to keep a veteran romance reader like myself hooked. It had a couple of twists I generally didn’t see coming! I also love Sarah’s writing-witty, sophisticated and just so good that part of the pleasure of this book came from just enjoying her writing alone. Simon and Juliana were adorable together and I loved seeing them get their happily ever after! The only thing that could have been improved was seeing more of Simon’s transformation into a man Juliana could love. I felt that it kinda happened too suddenly, without much explanation.

In terms of plotline, the story was very character-driven and there was no external villain-instead the hero and heroine had to deal with their (at first) unwanted feelings for each other. The love scenes were pretty spicy, and were probably made more so by seeing such a proper, stiff hero succumb to his baser passions I also loved seeing the heroes and heroines from the other novels and how they were getting on. It’s always nice to see what happens after happily ever after.

So, if you’re looking for a well-written, fresh, witty, touching, spicy romance reminiscent of Pride and Prejudice, pick this one up-you won’t regret it! Can’t wait for Sarah’s next book!

Sensuality Rating: Hot (Love scenes are pretty long and pretty explicit)

Verdict: A sweet, witty romance and a perfect ending to a good trilogy!

Rating: 4 and a half out of 5 stars

Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLean

Setting: Regency 1823

Summary:

Since being named “London’s Lord to Land” by a popular ladies’ magazine, Nicholas St. John has been relentlessly pursued by every matrimony-minded female in the ton. So when an opportunity to escape fashionable society presents itself, he eagerly jumps—only to land in the path of the most determined, damnably delicious woman he’s ever met!

The daughter of a titled wastrel, Lady Isabel Townsend has too many secrets and too little money. Though she is used to taking care of herself quite handily, her father’s recent passing has left Isabel at sea and in need of outside help to protect her young brother’s birthright. The sinfully handsome, eminently eligible Lord Nicholas could be the very salvation she seeks.

But the lady must be wary and not do anything reckless and foolish…like falling madly, passionately in love.

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Review:

After reading and loving the first book in this series, I couldn’t wait for the second one, especially since I had kinda fallen for the hero as a secondary character in the first one. Nick seemed like an awesome hero and since I personally have a soft spot for kind, honorable heroes rather than the more rakish ones, I was just dying to read this one.

I wish I could say I loved it and that it was a worthy sequel but that would be a lie. There was so much promise for this one but somewhere along the way, the potential was lost in a predictable, cheesy, improbable and frankly quite dull novel. The beginning was funny, witty and promised another great read but once the hero/heroine met, things went downhill.

It was clear from the start that the hero/heroine were meant for each other which heightened my anticipation for when they met, but I was very disappointed. They just didn’t have enough chemistry! Nick who was a great secondary character in the first one, was just plain bland here. It was enough to put me off the ‘good’ hero for good, which isn’t right because I know from personal experience, if done right, they make awesome swoon worthy heroes. He had his moments though but he couldn’t save this book. Isabel was your typical independent, spunky heroine but that was about it. I tried to sympathize with her situation but I couldn’t help feeling that she really didn’t have much to complain about. I just couldn’t admire her all that much. The conflict was also not big enough to keep me hooked and I just struggled through the book, waiting for it too pick up which it never did.

The plot was also full of improbabilities. I mean more than 3/4 of the book took place in 4 days! 4 days and we have the heroine, who has been let down by every man in her life (and has some serious trust issues) completely falling for the hero. I mean really, realistically, it would take a much longer time for her to trust a man so absolutely. Isabel runs a house protecting young women which was a bit improbable but acceptable. What wasn’t was how she actually climbed on a roof to try to fix it, in full view of the hero. I just felt like banging my head on a wall, her behavior was so beyond what was acceptable.

And then after being let down the first half by the H and H, I waited to meet the characters from the first book and spend more time with them but even that was a letdown. The heroine didn’t even meet any of the previous characters! They all appeared for like two pages and were gone! The only light here was meeting the hero for the next book, who will prove interesting!

The love scenes were bland as well, and just seemed like copies of the love scenes in the first book-Looks like the brothers really are twins-they even have sex the same way!! :O I just found the scenes cheesy and unlikely as Isabel just seemed to jump right onto Nick’s lap without even the slightest consideration for propriety or even the smallest concern for her virtue.

Please, Ms MacLean, I know you can do much better than this! I’ll be reading your next book just because I have so much faith in you!

Sensuality Rating: Hot (Long and explicit scenes)

Final Verdict: Sorry to say, but you should skip this one and wait for book three!

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah Maclean

Setting: Regency 1823

Summary:

A lady does not smoke cheroot.

She does not ride astride.

She does not fence or attend duels.

She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen’s club.

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried—and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she’s vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she’s been missing. But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss—to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston—charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.

If she’s not careful, she’ll break the most important rule of all—the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love . . .

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Review:

A book that starts with an adventurous list… What’s not to like?

I completely fell in love with this book from page one. Callie was such a great heroine and one with issues we all can relate to. She’s been a wallflower much of her life because she isn’t considered beautiful by society’s standards and yet she’s passionate, adventurous and so much more than anyone would have expected. I really related to her and rooted for her the entire novel.

Ralston on the other hand… Well, let’s just say he had me glued to the page, my cheeks aflame for much of the book.

But it wasn’t just his obvious sexiness that hooked me, it was his ability to recognize Callie as worth so much more than his typical courtesans-to fall in love with her and see her for the true beauty she really is.

As for the rest of the characters, they were all easy to fall in love with as well-Callie’s sister and brother and Ralston’s sister and brother were all great; really fleshed out characters that are REAL.

The romance was spicy and well-written and it was clear that Callie and Ralston were well-matched. I love that in books when you can really see the connection between a hero and heroine and I could certainly see it in this one. I loved how Raslton was simultaneously irritated and bewitched by Callie-it made for some spicy interludes. The interactions between them were also so real you can almost imagine them taking place right in front of you.

The premise was unique and very well carried out-It wasn’t at all predictable in terms of what she would do to get the things on her list ticked off and more than that, the book was funny. I laughed several times throughout at the wittiness and the antics that the characters performed. Sarah Maclean has some serious talent and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with for the hero of her next book, Ralston’s twin brother, Nick!

Sensuality Level: Very, very spicy (Very explicit love scenes)

Verdict: It was fresh, witty, sexy and very romantic–Sarah Maclean is now on my favourite authors list!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars