Review: Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart (Love By Numbers #3) by Sarah MacLean

Title: Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart

Author: Sarah MacLean

Series: 3rd in Love by Numbers

Pages: 367

Published: Available now from Avon

ISBN: 9780061852077

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

 

Description: 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.

I Give This ...

 

I think that was my favorite of the series.  It's really hard to tell when the characters are so different.  I think it's because I enjoyed Juliana's character the most out of all the female leads.

I really admire Juliana's character the entire story.  She's fiery and cares nothing about other's approval.  Her passion is what drives her character.  She knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to get it.  While her outer face challenges anyone who disapproves of her actions, I think she really longs for acceptance.  I think she's feels she's constantly trying to live down her mother's actions and her own upbringing.  She longs for acceptance but not at the sake of losing who she is.

I enjoyed Simon's character as well.  Typical for a male, I wanted to slap him a couple times when he didn't realize how hurtful some of the things he said were.  I loved watching his carefully built reputation come crashing down around him.  He worked so hard to be everything he was suppose to be that he forgot to live for himself.  I really enjoyed watching him fight against what he truly wanted all to save his reputation.

I loved how their romance functioned.  Juliana truly brought out the best in Simon.  She made him question who he was and what really mattered.  I was happy to see that Juliana got what she deserved as well.  She stopped worrying about being a scandal and settled for the importance of family.  

I'm sad to think this series is over.  I've really enjoyed it as it's opened my eyes to the historical romance genre.  Hopefully I can find something as fun and this!