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! 

 

Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord (The Ralstons #2) by Sarah MacLean

Title: Ten Ways to be Adored When Landing a Lord

Author: Sarah MacLean

Series: 2nd in The Ralstons

Pages: 357

Published: October 2010 by Avon

ISBN: 9780061852060

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: Since being named one of London’s "Lords 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 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...like falling madly, passionately in love. 

I Give This ...

I think I liked the characters more in this one.  And the location was different which added an interesting element to the story.  There was a couple things that bothered me, but not enough to through off the story.

Isabel was just as strong of a female character as Callie was in the first book.  She's use to handling things on her own.  She has taken care of herself, her younger brother, and the estate pretty much on her own.  Plus, she's created a sort of halfway home for women.  It's an admirable thing to do in a time were women didn't do things like this on their own.   It's also created a fault were she can't admit when she might be over her head and need some help.  Something everyone else can see.

I liked getting to know Nick in a different light.  He's not exactly how I pictured him in the first book.  He seems a lot more dark and mysterious here.  I enjoyed learning his history and what made him the sort of man he is.  I also liked his friend Rock that journeyed with him.  There's quite a bit of history there and I'm glad they both found happiness and love.

What bothered me a little was the sex scenes were completely predictable this time around.  The followed the exact same pattern as the first book (right down to the intimacy that occurs is each one).  It was kind of strange.  Plus, there is some dialogue that is identical.  Perhaps this isn't as noticeable if you don't read the book pretty much back to back.

I still really enjoyed this one and will be looking forward to the next in the series.  I assume, since the series is now titled The Ralstons, that the next one will be about Julianna.

Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake (The Ralstons #1) by Sarah MacLean

Title: Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake

Author: Sarah MacLean

Series: 1st in The Ralston's series

Pages:  397
Published: March 2010 by Avon

ISBN: 9780061852053

Source: Personal Copy

 

Description: 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... 

I Give This ...

I usually stay far away from romance novels.  Especially those that I think might fall under similar category as Harlequin romances.   But, this one seems to get rave reviews and I really liked her young adult novel.  So, I decided to give it a go.

  In all reality, I thought this was historical fiction in a fun way.  I loved the setting, but then I'm fond of most books set in England, and growing a fondness for the 1800s in particular.  Callie was interesting.  She seems to so boring at first, but only because she's spent so long doing what's expected of her.  Once the hat comes off (and I mean that literally lol), it's a whole new ballgame.  She wants to do something scandalous and I wonder if she realizes the consequences if she is caught.  I enjoyed watching her grow out of her spinster habits and realize that she's a remarkable women.  I liked her family as well. 

Gabriel is also an interesting character.   He is your typical ladies man (I had to look up what a rake was because I had never hear the term before).  You know because of the type of novel it is that he's going to fall in love, but I couldn't help but love every minute of his interactions with Callie.  

I think one of things I liked the most was the fact that you could take the sex out of this book and the book would still hold it's own.  The characters and storyline don't depend on it.  I  will be looking forward to more from Sarah MacLean.