Books On Sale

Books on Sale: Sarah MacLean’s Rules of Scoundrels Series

Book A Rogue by Any Other Name

A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean is $2.99 at Amazon and $3.99 elsewhere – and coupon eligible in case you've got some coupons floating about. This is book one in the Rules of Scoundrels series, all of which take place in and around a gaming hell. The entire series is on sale right now. This book was nominated for and won the RITA® for Best Historical in 2013.

In our RITA® Reader Challenge reviews, Rayvyn2k gave it an A and wrote: 

I loved this book. There is a marriage of convenience (my own personal romance catnip if done well—and it is done very well here), and a hero and heroine who are both struggling with devastating self-esteem issues. Add childhood friendships, meddling friends and family members and you have my perfect story.

Jess M also gave this book an A in her RITA® Reader Challenge review, where she wrote: 

This was a great story. It was engaging, entertaining and filled with scandal. This is the first story in The Rules of Scoundrels series and sets up the rest of the characters that will be involved in the series.

A decade ago, the Marquess of Bourne was cast from society with nothing but his title. Now a partner in London’s most exclusive gaming hell, the cold, ruthless Bourne will do whatever it takes to regain his inheritance—including marrying perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury.

A broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships have left Penelope with little interest in a quiet, comfortable marriage, and a longing for something more. How lucky that her new husband has access to such unexplored pleasures.

Bourne may be a prince of London’s underworld, but he vows to keep Penelope untouched by its wickedness—a challenge indeed as the lady discovers her own desires, and her willingness to wager anything for them… even her heart.

Goodreads | Amazon | BN | Kobo

 

 

 

 

Book One Good Earl Deserves a Lover

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is book 2 in the Rules of Scoundrels series, and is $2.99 at Amazon (and $5.99 elsewhere, because weirdness). This book has a 4+ star average on GoodReads, and features a scientist heroine who is determined to learn about sexuality before her wedding night, and needs a rogue to help her with said research. I wanted to love the heroine, and while I liked her, I struggled with this book for a few of the same reasons that the other 2-star reviewers did, but those who loved this book, loooved this book. And if the whole series is on sale, and you're curious, why not, right? I'm curious to know what you think.

Lady Philippa Marbury is odd. The bespectacled, brilliant fourth daughter of the Marquess of Needham and Dolby cares more for books than balls, flora than fashion and science than the season. Nearly engaged to Lord Castleton, Pippa wants to explore the scandalous parts of London she's never seen before marriage. And she knows just who to ask: the tall, charming, quick-witted bookkeeper of The Fallen Angel, London's most notorious and coveted gaming hell, known only as Cross.

Like any good scientist, Pippa's done her research and Cross's reputation makes him perfect for her scheme. She wants science without emotion—the experience of ruination without the repercussions of ruination. And who better to provide her with the experience than this legendary man? But when this odd, unexpected female propositions Cross, it's more than tempting . . . and it will take everything he has to resist following his instincts—and giving the lady precisely what she wants.

Goodreads | Amazon | BN | Kobo

 

 

 

 

 

Book No Good Duke Goes Unpunished

RECOMMENDED: No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean is $2.99 at Amazon and $4.99 elsewhere. This book recently won the RITA© for Best Historical Romance and received positive reviews during our RITA© Reader Challenge. This is the third book in MacLean's The Rules of Scoundrels series and features a hero and heroine with some hefty past baggage (i.e. the hero thinks he's killed her).

Elyse reviewed it back in December and gave it an A-:

I loved this book because Mara and Temple were complicated, interesting characters without falling into stereotypes. Temple is an alpha-male, but he displays his soft side in heart melting scenes. Mara is the feisty, independent heroine without any foot-stamping or TSTL moments. No Good Duke Goes Unpunished also features the hottest sex scene I've ever read in a Regency. It's scorching, but not explicit the way erotica is.

Romantic Librarian reviewed this for the RITA® challenge and gave it a B-

While this feisty romance has plenty of MacLean’s trademark wry humor and strong heroine traits, this is not her strongest book.  The scenario is unique and the second chance theme is appealing, but the hero and heroine meet up too soon to set up their deal, making the rest of the book have less impact. Temple has his friends to stick up for him, from the first two books in the Rule of Scoundrel series, but despite all that has been done to him, it takes a while for him to become a truly likeable character. But perhaps that is the point, that he has come to believe he is no good after years of being ostracized.

EvilTwinJen gave it a B- as well, saying:

I've been binge-reading the Rule of Scoundrels series, and I've got to say first that she has the best book titles. One Good Earl Deserves a Lover was a delight. I struggled to assign a fair grade to this one though, because of the heroine–the title is a little too on point. Normally I'd side-eye anyone who said they found a heroine unlikeable because she was abrasive or made a lot of mistakes. Lord knows we've forgiven heroes their mistakes in many a book. In this case, I can't decide if I'm holding the heroine to an unfair double standard.

And Jessica M gave it an A, and said: 

Mara ruins Temple’s life. No ifs, ands, or buts. MacLean does an excellent job of depicting her as a villain with vulnerabilities. I hated Mara and then I loved her. She stands for what she wants; she’s headstrong but a good person to have on your side. She doesn’t care whom she bulldozes over in order to get what she wants. But, with age comes wisdom….

Book Never Judge a Lady by her Cover Note: this book reveals the secret that sets up book 4, a secret that has prompted several readers to go back to book 1 and start over, looking for clues to the reveal they did not see coming. If you've been curious about the series, you can get them all on sale and have time to read them before Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover comes out in November.

A rogue ruined . . .

He is the Killer Duke, accused of murdering Mara Lowe on the eve of her wedding. With no memory of that fateful night, Temple has reigned over the darkest of London’s corners for twelve years, wealthy and powerful, but beyond redemption. Until one night, Mara resurfaces, offering the one thing he’s dreamed of . . . absolution.

A lady returned . . .

Mara planned never to return to the world from which she’d run, but when her brother falls deep into debt at Temple’s exclusive casino, she has no choice but to offer Temple a trade that ends in her returning to society and proving to the world what only she knows . . . that he is no killer.

A scandal revealed . . .

It’s a fine trade, until Temple realizes that the lady—and her past—are more than they seem. It will take every bit of his strength to resist the pull of this mysterious, maddening woman who seems willing to risk everything for honor . . . and to keep from putting himself on the line for love.

Goodreads | Amazon | BN | Kobo

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Comments are Closed

  1. Tameka says:

    Thanks for posting this.  I’m buying them.  FYI – No Good Duke Goes Unpunished (third book) is $2.99 at B&N right now.

  2. Vicki says:

    So is A Rogue by Any Other Name.

  3. Tamara Hogan says:

    Note: this book reveals the secret that sets up book 4, a secret that has prompted several readers to go back to book 1 and start over, looking for clues to the reveal they did not see coming.

    /waves hand/ …and might I say, very masterfully done. 😉

  4. Meesa says:

    I’ve read all but the fourth so far and loved them but Earl Deserves a Lover is my favorite of them all – for several reasons.  I loved the characters, they seemed to fit together so well and I found this one to have the hottest sex scene where nobody actually has intercourse, or even touches each other.  Good stuff.

    Oh and the reveal at the end of book 3?  Yep, mind blown.  Did not see it coming at all.

  5. Sarita says:

    Eeexcellent. This perfectly fits my plan. My EVIL plan.

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