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The Rules of Scoundrels #2
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover
The second in the incredible new Rules of Scoundrels series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean.
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.
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.
376 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 29, 2013
About the author
Sarah MacLean
33 books13.8k followersNew York Times, Washington Post & USA Today bestseller Sarah MacLean is the author of historical romance novels. Translated into more than twenty-five languages, the books that make up “The MacLeaniverse” are beloved by readers worldwide.
In addition to her novels, Sarah is a leading advocate for the romance genre, speaking widely on its place as a feminist text and a cultural bellwether. A columnist for the New York Times, the Washington Post and Bustle, she is the co-host of the weekly romance podcast, Fated Mates. Her work in support of romance and those who read it earned her a place on Jezebel.com's Sheroes list and led Entertainment Weekly to call her "the elegantly fuming, utterly intoxicating queen of historical romance." She lives in New York City.
In addition to her novels, Sarah is a leading advocate for the romance genre, speaking widely on its place as a feminist text and a cultural bellwether. A columnist for the New York Times, the Washington Post and Bustle, she is the co-host of the weekly romance podcast, Fated Mates. Her work in support of romance and those who read it earned her a place on Jezebel.com's Sheroes list and led Entertainment Weekly to call her "the elegantly fuming, utterly intoxicating queen of historical romance." She lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,882 reviews
December 4, 2013
I know...it's totally cheating. But i really do like this one. ;)
March 25, 2015
*full review now posted*
“I am going to ruin you, Pippa. I shall show you pleasure you’ve never known, the kind you’ve never dreamed. Over and over and over until you beg me never to stop.”
This book was all about temptation
and sexual tension
The story
Lady Philippa Marbury is engaged to be married, and has a terrible problem. She doesn't know the mechanics of the marriage bed
Scientific person that she is, she finds that the only solution is research. Thorough research
And the best person to help her study it is Mr. Cross, co-owner of The Fallen Angel, a man known for his prowess and skill in the bedroom
Cross, on the other hand, has absolutely no intention of helping her, she's too much of a temptation to him, and even one touch could dissintegrate all his walls and defences. Too bad for him, Pippa is very, very persistent
Cross
Co-owner of The Fallen Angel, extremely intelligent, an ex-rogue, and a man with a powerful title that he'd disavowed, Cross thinks Phillipa is a madwoman. What sane person would come to his rooms at a notorious gambling house asking him for her ruination?
That's the last thing he needs, especially considering the strange effect that madwoman has on him.
Showing Pippa about passion is something he can't do, because it awakens his own, but at the same time, allowing anyone else to show her is unacceptable as well. So the best he can do is show her whet he can, without touching
And can I just say, that man is unbelievably good with words
every scene with them was full of sparks, tension all over, and WOW! The first lesson
Loved Cross as a character, he's very smart, and with his secret from the past, I couldn't help but feel bad for him, and everything that happened.
He doesn't want to be close to Pippa, doesn't want to corrupt and ruin her, and I just loved him for it, trying to make amends
Pippa
She's intelligent, a scientist, and thinks through everything before she acts. She doesn't like dishonesty, and is sometimes brutal with sharing her opinions
Soon to be married, Pippa is uneasy with what awaits her, because she doesn't understand it, and seeks help in a most unusual way
Cross is reluctant to help her, but she is reluctant to give up
and with his help, she'll find out what exactly temptation is, and that she doesn't have it with her fiancé, but with her teacher
Pippa, I just loved her!
One of the best HR heroines I've read
You never know what might come out of her mouth, but whatever it is, it's not what you'd expect
love the way she always confused Cross, and he couldn't keep up with her train of thought
and at the end, what she did! Oh yes, very glad by how it all turned out, mostly because of her
So my verdict: I loved this! The characters were great, and the book was simmering with heat and tension
The only thing that was lacking was the subplot (Knight) 
and the ending was a bit too sweet (but that's just my problem) Still, a wonderful romance, Pippa and Cross were beautiful together 
and this book has the most sensual scene I've ever read in a HR! So don't miss it!
*ARC courtesy of Avon via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*
“I am going to ruin you, Pippa. I shall show you pleasure you’ve never known, the kind you’ve never dreamed. Over and over and over until you beg me never to stop.”
This book was all about temptation
and sexual tension The story
Lady Philippa Marbury is engaged to be married, and has a terrible problem. She doesn't know the mechanics of the marriage bed
Scientific person that she is, she finds that the only solution is research. Thorough research
And the best person to help her study it is Mr. Cross, co-owner of The Fallen Angel, a man known for his prowess and skill in the bedroom
Cross, on the other hand, has absolutely no intention of helping her, she's too much of a temptation to him, and even one touch could dissintegrate all his walls and defences. Too bad for him, Pippa is very, very persistent
“You should know better than to reach into the darkness, Pippa,” he said softly, the sound of her name familiar on his lips. “You never know what you might find.”
Cross
Co-owner of The Fallen Angel, extremely intelligent, an ex-rogue, and a man with a powerful title that he'd disavowed, Cross thinks Phillipa is a madwoman. What sane person would come to his rooms at a notorious gambling house asking him for her ruination?
That's the last thing he needs, especially considering the strange effect that madwoman has on him.
Showing Pippa about passion is something he can't do, because it awakens his own, but at the same time, allowing anyone else to show her is unacceptable as well. So the best he can do is show her whet he can, without touching
And can I just say, that man is unbelievably good with words
every scene with them was full of sparks, tension all over, and WOW! The first lesson
Loved Cross as a character, he's very smart, and with his secret from the past, I couldn't help but feel bad for him, and everything that happened.
He doesn't want to be close to Pippa, doesn't want to corrupt and ruin her, and I just loved him for it, trying to make amends
His gaze darkened, and a muscle leapt in his jaw. “This is all there is, Pippa. I won’t touch you. I won’t ruin you.”
“I’m ruined, whether you touch me or not.”
“No. If I don’t touch you, you’re safe.”
“And if I don’t wish to be safe?”
“I’m afraid you haven’t a choice.”
“It’s because I am odd.” And then she looked up at him with those enormous blue eyes, and said, “I can’t help it.”
God help him, he wanted to kiss her senseless, odd or not. He wanted to kiss her senseless because she was odd.
Pippa
She's intelligent, a scientist, and thinks through everything before she acts. She doesn't like dishonesty, and is sometimes brutal with sharing her opinions
Soon to be married, Pippa is uneasy with what awaits her, because she doesn't understand it, and seeks help in a most unusual way
Cross is reluctant to help her, but she is reluctant to give up
and with his help, she'll find out what exactly temptation is, and that she doesn't have it with her fiancé, but with her teacher
Pippa, I just loved her!
One of the best HR heroines I've read
You never know what might come out of her mouth, but whatever it is, it's not what you'd expect
love the way she always confused Cross, and he couldn't keep up with her train of thought
and at the end, what she did! Oh yes, very glad by how it all turned out, mostly because of her
“Do not tempt the lion,” he said, the words brushing across her lips, parting them with their touch. “For he most certainly will bite.”
So my verdict: I loved this! The characters were great, and the book was simmering with heat and tension
The only thing that was lacking was the subplot (Knight) and the ending was a bit too sweet (but that's just my problem) Still, a wonderful romance, Pippa and Cross were beautiful together and this book has the most sensual scene I've ever read in a HR! So don't miss it!*ARC courtesy of Avon via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*
January 4, 2013
Review completed January 4, 2013
Utterly witty. Eclectic. Beautiful. Sensual. Deliciously good.
"You have no idea what I could do to you, Philippa Marbury. The ways I could touch you. The wonders I could show you. I could ruin you without thought, sink with you into the depths of sin and not once regret it. I could lead you right into temptation and never ever look back."
Can't breathe
Sarah MacLean has done it again! This is HR (emphasis on romance) at its best. I loved A Rogue by Any Other Name, however, this sequel exceeds everything that I've read by this author. She sure knows how to write a very witty, eclectic and enthralling HR. Wow, the heady thrill of a great HR. I bow to you, Sarah. While the first half of the story was very good the second half just blew me away. A-mazing with a capital A.
"I wonder if you could explain the use of the tongue."
Pippa is about to marry Lord Castleton and wants to start a research project. A research in carnal lust and appetites, so that she might enter into marriage without any concerns. She is in need of assistance and knows who to ask: Cross. He is the bookkeeper of The Fallen Angel, the most notorious gaming hell in London. Cross is handsome, very tall, highly intelligent and known as a connoisseur of women. Cross's reputation makes him perfect for her scheme. She is not looking for any emotional connection--it's all about science after all. Oh well, things are not always as they seem…
Pippa doesn't want Cross to perform the act, however, she wants him to help her to better understand it. Initially Cross is refusing her request but as the story progresses he is promising Pippa to teach her about temptation and he is going to accomplish the task. Thoroughly.
Talk about temptation...
"I don't understand. What is temptation, then?"
"Temptation…" He hesitated, and she found herself leaning forward, eager for this curious, unsettling lesson. "Temptation turns you. It makes you into something you never dreamed, it presses you to give up everything you ever loved, it calls you to sell your soul for one, fleeting moment."(….)"It makes you ache," he whispered, and she watched the curve of his lips in the darkness. "You'll make any promise, swear any oath. For one…perfect…unsoiled taste."
Quick breath
When Pippa realizes that her physiological research project turns into something emotional, panic flares.
She was here in the interest of discovery. In the name of research. Granted, the research in question was somewhat unorthodox but it was research nonetheless. She didn't want to allow emotion into the scenario.
Lady Philippa Marbury, daughter of the Marquess of Needham and Dolby
The bespectacled Pippa. Wow, I absolutely loved the heroine, she totally knocked my socks off. She has a brilliant mind. An odd yet strong heroine who is refreshingly different and utterly adorable and endearing. Pippa the Great One. In fact, she unsettled and distracted our dear Cross in a major way. Ultimately, Pippa is Cross's salvation, his hope and his love.
At a certain point of the story she had to admit that she didn't want the ordinary, the mundane. In conclusion, she didn't want the mundane yet very kind Lord Castleton.
Talk about odd...
"It's just that…since we met, I have been rather…well, fascinated by…"
You.
Say it, he willed, not entirely certain what he would do if she did, but willing to put himself to the test.
She took another breath. "By your bones."
Would she ever say anything expected? "My bones?"
She nodded. "Yes. Well, the muscles and tendons, too. Your forearms. Your thighs. And earlier--while I watched you drink whiskey--by your hands."
Well, I think it's not odd at all. I, for one, love male forearms and hands.
Cross
Cross is an elusive and somewhat strange man. Cross has his own cross to bear. Whence the name--to recall past sins. As a matter of fact, he is hiding something very painful. Cross is punishing himself for a tragedy that happened a long time ago, and he has spent years atoning for his sins. He doesn't want to touch her because he is not willing to ruin her. In the end, though, Pippa is too much for him to resist.
Cross is another candidate for my shelf "memorable-favorite-heroes." He is a very sensual specimen of a man and I would like to be a virgin again. Specifically for him. Cross proved his prowess…
…when I hit the 58 % mark of the story. I had the pleasure to read the Best. HR. Scene. Ever. When Cross fell to his knees, it was like a sign--he surrendered to this adorable woman. It was devastatingly beautiful and most certainly the best foreplay scene that I've read. Ever. Cross showed Pippa temptation without touching her. There were only his stunning voice and a great many lush, sinful, pleasurable, knowing words involved--besides the two MCs of course. Pippa almost came but Cross Frankly, I was in a puddle at Cross's feet and I'd gladly volunteer any day. This may come as a surprise but I felt it was better than sex. With that said, I was drowning in their sensation, sensuality, and chemistry; it was so exceptionally well done that I wanted to combust. What a feast for the senses! Cross's onslaught of words left me…
Breathless
I truly adored the profound, richly-textured and witty dialogue. Fantastic! The author really has an amazing gift to draw me into the story and I was enthralled by Cross and Pippa's interaction. Hence, I so enjoyed their glorious and wicked journey to their ultimate destination: love. The plot is well thought out and provides some nice dose of angst. You should be prepared for some frustrating and intense moments when Cross's nemesis, Digger Knight,
Cross and Pippa are perfect for one another because Cross really saw her. He looked beyond the odd woman. Cross heard Pippa and enjoyed her bing different; she clearly intrigued him. In the end Cross claimed her mind, body, and heart and at the same time he was determined to protect and save Pippa, come what may.
"The room is spinning."
His lips curved at her earlobe. "I thought I was the only one who noticed."
She turned to face him. "What causes it?"
"My little scientist…if you have time to wonder about that, I am not doing my job well enough."
Just breathe
The path to Cross and Pippa's carnal fulfillment is deliciously…scandalously…amazingly…wickedly…sinfully…good!
He stopped her. "They aren't experiments."
(…)"Of course they are."
"No, Pippa. They aren't. They're a desire for knowledge, certainly, a need for it, even. But more than that, they're a need for understanding of this thing that you are about to do, that you have refused to stop and that terrifies you. They are a desperate ploy to stop yourself from feeling all the doubt and frustration and fear that you must be feeling. You say you want to understand what happens between men and women. Between husbands and wives. But instead of going to any number of those who know better--who know firsthand…you come to me. In the darkness."
Breathing slowly
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is a must read for every HR fan. What are you waiting for? Just read it!
Next up is Temple's story, No Good Duke Goes Unpunished, and I'm already looking forward to reading it.
"This is for love."
Steam: 3 / Chemistry: 5 / Sensuality: 5 / Eroticism: 4
I strongly advise you to read the Author's Note.
Expected publication date: January 29, 2013
ARC kindly provided by Avon via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you--I appreciate it!
Utterly witty. Eclectic. Beautiful. Sensual. Deliciously good.
"You have no idea what I could do to you, Philippa Marbury. The ways I could touch you. The wonders I could show you. I could ruin you without thought, sink with you into the depths of sin and not once regret it. I could lead you right into temptation and never ever look back."
Can't breathe
Sarah MacLean has done it again! This is HR (emphasis on romance) at its best. I loved A Rogue by Any Other Name, however, this sequel exceeds everything that I've read by this author. She sure knows how to write a very witty, eclectic and enthralling HR. Wow, the heady thrill of a great HR. I bow to you, Sarah. While the first half of the story was very good the second half just blew me away. A-mazing with a capital A.
"I wonder if you could explain the use of the tongue."
Pippa is about to marry Lord Castleton and wants to start a research project. A research in carnal lust and appetites, so that she might enter into marriage without any concerns. She is in need of assistance and knows who to ask: Cross. He is the bookkeeper of The Fallen Angel, the most notorious gaming hell in London. Cross is handsome, very tall, highly intelligent and known as a connoisseur of women. Cross's reputation makes him perfect for her scheme. She is not looking for any emotional connection--it's all about science after all. Oh well, things are not always as they seem…
Pippa doesn't want Cross to perform the act, however, she wants him to help her to better understand it. Initially Cross is refusing her request but as the story progresses he is promising Pippa to teach her about temptation and he is going to accomplish the task. Thoroughly.
Talk about temptation...
"I don't understand. What is temptation, then?"
"Temptation…" He hesitated, and she found herself leaning forward, eager for this curious, unsettling lesson. "Temptation turns you. It makes you into something you never dreamed, it presses you to give up everything you ever loved, it calls you to sell your soul for one, fleeting moment."(….)"It makes you ache," he whispered, and she watched the curve of his lips in the darkness. "You'll make any promise, swear any oath. For one…perfect…unsoiled taste."
Quick breath
When Pippa realizes that her physiological research project turns into something emotional, panic flares.
She was here in the interest of discovery. In the name of research. Granted, the research in question was somewhat unorthodox but it was research nonetheless. She didn't want to allow emotion into the scenario.
Lady Philippa Marbury, daughter of the Marquess of Needham and Dolby
The bespectacled Pippa. Wow, I absolutely loved the heroine, she totally knocked my socks off. She has a brilliant mind. An odd yet strong heroine who is refreshingly different and utterly adorable and endearing. Pippa the Great One. In fact, she unsettled and distracted our dear Cross in a major way. Ultimately, Pippa is Cross's salvation, his hope and his love.
At a certain point of the story she had to admit that she didn't want the ordinary, the mundane. In conclusion, she didn't want the mundane yet very kind Lord Castleton.
Talk about odd...
"It's just that…since we met, I have been rather…well, fascinated by…"
You.
Say it, he willed, not entirely certain what he would do if she did, but willing to put himself to the test.
She took another breath. "By your bones."
Would she ever say anything expected? "My bones?"
She nodded. "Yes. Well, the muscles and tendons, too. Your forearms. Your thighs. And earlier--while I watched you drink whiskey--by your hands."
Well, I think it's not odd at all. I, for one, love male forearms and hands.
Cross
Cross is an elusive and somewhat strange man. Cross has his own cross to bear. Whence the name--to recall past sins. As a matter of fact, he is hiding something very painful. Cross is punishing himself for a tragedy that happened a long time ago, and he has spent years atoning for his sins. He doesn't want to touch her because he is not willing to ruin her. In the end, though, Pippa is too much for him to resist.
Cross is another candidate for my shelf "memorable-favorite-heroes." He is a very sensual specimen of a man and I would like to be a virgin again. Specifically for him. Cross proved his prowess…
…when I hit the 58 % mark of the story. I had the pleasure to read the Best. HR. Scene. Ever. When Cross fell to his knees, it was like a sign--he surrendered to this adorable woman. It was devastatingly beautiful and most certainly the best foreplay scene that I've read. Ever. Cross showed Pippa temptation without touching her. There were only his stunning voice and a great many lush, sinful, pleasurable, knowing words involved--besides the two MCs of course. Pippa almost came but Cross Frankly, I was in a puddle at Cross's feet and I'd gladly volunteer any day. This may come as a surprise but I felt it was better than sex. With that said, I was drowning in their sensation, sensuality, and chemistry; it was so exceptionally well done that I wanted to combust. What a feast for the senses! Cross's onslaught of words left me…
Breathless
I truly adored the profound, richly-textured and witty dialogue. Fantastic! The author really has an amazing gift to draw me into the story and I was enthralled by Cross and Pippa's interaction. Hence, I so enjoyed their glorious and wicked journey to their ultimate destination: love. The plot is well thought out and provides some nice dose of angst. You should be prepared for some frustrating and intense moments when Cross's nemesis, Digger Knight,
Cross and Pippa are perfect for one another because Cross really saw her. He looked beyond the odd woman. Cross heard Pippa and enjoyed her bing different; she clearly intrigued him. In the end Cross claimed her mind, body, and heart and at the same time he was determined to protect and save Pippa, come what may.
"The room is spinning."
His lips curved at her earlobe. "I thought I was the only one who noticed."
She turned to face him. "What causes it?"
"My little scientist…if you have time to wonder about that, I am not doing my job well enough."
Just breathe
The path to Cross and Pippa's carnal fulfillment is deliciously…scandalously…amazingly…wickedly…sinfully…good!
He stopped her. "They aren't experiments."
(…)"Of course they are."
"No, Pippa. They aren't. They're a desire for knowledge, certainly, a need for it, even. But more than that, they're a need for understanding of this thing that you are about to do, that you have refused to stop and that terrifies you. They are a desperate ploy to stop yourself from feeling all the doubt and frustration and fear that you must be feeling. You say you want to understand what happens between men and women. Between husbands and wives. But instead of going to any number of those who know better--who know firsthand…you come to me. In the darkness."
Breathing slowly
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is a must read for every HR fan. What are you waiting for? Just read it!
Next up is Temple's story, No Good Duke Goes Unpunished, and I'm already looking forward to reading it.
"This is for love."
Steam: 3 / Chemistry: 5 / Sensuality: 5 / Eroticism: 4
I strongly advise you to read the Author's Note.
Expected publication date: January 29, 2013
ARC kindly provided by Avon via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you--I appreciate it!
November 22, 2015
This is such a great story! What are you waiting for?
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is the second book in Sarah MacLean’s The Rules of Scoundrels series, and from the first page to the last, simply wonderful! It’s witty, poignant, romantic, and sexy, and a story I simply couldn’t put down!Cross
Cover blurb: 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.I don’t know where to begin when sharing with you the many things I love about this book! The story is amazing - fast paced, sensual, deliciously sexy and very romantic. It's the perfect backdrop for our hero and heroine who are also amazing. They are vulnerable yet strong, stubborn but yielding, flawed yet in a word, perfect!
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.
Lady Phillipa Marbury, with her black and white, scientific way of thinking, drew me in and had me loving her early on. At times I laughed at how naive her ideas were, and at other times, I almost cried because of the same. I wanted to protect her from the harsh world of The Fallen Angel and Cross's life, and at other times I wanted to push her right into the middle of it - right into his arms! Pippa, like all of Sarah MacLean's heroines, is wonderful! The kind of woman I would like to be if I were living in her era.
And then there's Cross. Cross is such an interesting character! A man of many contradictions. He's got secrets, demons that torment and eat away at him. At times he's oppressive and bleak, yet at other times he's compassionate and determined to protect those he loves. He's devoted, exciting, sexy... a truly perfect hero!
And as if all that weren't enough, toss in an incredible supporting cast of characters, people whose stories I want to learn and whose lives I wish I had a place in... there's nothing more I can ask for.
The bottom line: This book has everything I look for in my historical romance reads. It’s funny, romantic, heartwarming, sexy… indeed, it has everything I want, everything I’ve come to expect from Sarah MacLean’s stories.
Many thanks to Avon Books for providing me with a paperback ARC of this story. It was a true pleasure to read!
September 21, 2015
What do you think of a girl who throws herself at a guy, he tells her "no", and yet she continues to throw herself at him every freaking day anyway? He rejects her day after day, but she still pursues him relentlessly.
Loser!!
And, that is pretty much the story in this book. Pippa is so freaking annoying that I was dying to bitch-slap her! Get some fucking self-respect!!! Sheesh! She spent the whole book literally chasing after this guy, Cross, and basically begging him to have sex with her. And, hey, if a guy turns you down for sex? He's just not that into you!! Guys aren't that picky when it comes to a free roll in the hay. But, she was so stupid, so irritating, so desperate, that she wouldn't leave him alone. I was actually embarrassed for her a few times in this book. Embarrassed! for a fictional character!! This poor character was really run through the mud by the writer. She degraded her in every way. It was just uncomfortable.
Loser!!
And, that is pretty much the story in this book. Pippa is so freaking annoying that I was dying to bitch-slap her! Get some fucking self-respect!!! Sheesh! She spent the whole book literally chasing after this guy, Cross, and basically begging him to have sex with her. And, hey, if a guy turns you down for sex? He's just not that into you!! Guys aren't that picky when it comes to a free roll in the hay. But, she was so stupid, so irritating, so desperate, that she wouldn't leave him alone. I was actually embarrassed for her a few times in this book. Embarrassed! for a fictional character!! This poor character was really run through the mud by the writer. She degraded her in every way. It was just uncomfortable.
November 18, 2015
DNF at 50%. I just couldn't stand it. The heroine was too stupid to live, even when she was supposed to be this highly intelligent girl. The hero was an asshole in the prologue, and I wasn't comfortable with how he was established. He was a cad in the worst sense of the word. Ugh. And the instant chemistry? Sorry, but I didn't feel it. It wasn't natural, and just came out of nowhere. One moment, the guy was saying the heroine was ordinary, and the other, he wanted to make love to her on a chair. WTF?
Nope. I don't know about all the glowing reviews, but this was a total waste of my time.
Nope. I don't know about all the glowing reviews, but this was a total waste of my time.
December 28, 2012
"It's because I am odd. I can't help it."
God help him, he wanted to kiss her senseless. He wanted to kiss her senseless because she was odd.
"Pippa-" he said, knowing he shouldn't speak.
She cut him off. "Don't tell me it's not true. I know it is. I'm strange."
"You are."
Her brows knit together. "Well, you don't have to tell it is true either."
I'm sure some of you are probably wondering why I would choose to start off a review with such a peculiar quote.
Here's why I chose it : odd is good. In fact, odd is better than good. How could I not root for a quirky, cute, bespectacled, science-loving heroine? The hero fell for her oddness. How darn adorable is that?
In fact, I really couldn't tell you that much about the hero himself. He didn't really stand out for me as far as male leads go...and to be honest, I didn't really care. However, he did play a very nice role in what was a very impressive scene of seduction involving unconventional methods. Often, what we aren't expecting is the thing that ends up appealing to us the most, and this scene worked quite nicely for me. In fact, I think this scene is what a lot of people are going to be talking about when they read the book. However, I can read a hot sex scene any day, so that wasn't was impressed me the most, even though this is technically a romance book.
Why? Well, let's go back to the odd thing. Instead of the heroine's voice narrating every single perfection about the male lead and his sensational face or physically fit body, we got to hear about how much Pippa loved Cross's bones. Yes, that is what happened. She went into detail about how she loved the way his bones were formed. Nerdy Girl wins points with me.
What else should I say? I think I might have seen this story a few times before, in which a woman propositions a more experienced man to "enlighten" her on the concept of coupling (there's your 5 second book summary in a nutshell), but it really was the female character herself that was the breath of fresh air in this book.
I have no humor or witty quips for this review (sorry friends, I'm still coming down from a food coma because of the evil holiday faeries who kept shoving food in my mouth). One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is a pretty straightforward historical romance. If you like that sort of thing, then there's a good chance you'll enjoy this book. If you don't read HR, then I'll see you in another day or two with something different for your consideration. :p
This book provided from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2013
Review posted at: Swept Away By Romance
5 Stars
I adore you, Sarah MacLean!! Your stories make me so idiotically happy;) Seriously, this is Sarah MacLean at her *very* best, doing what she does so well. This new series of hers, somehow, continues to get better with this second book, One Good Earl Deserves A Lover. I do believe this is my favorite book of hers to date!
Lady Philippa (Pippa) Marbury is a true individual. With her glasses, her brilliant and scientific mind, and her forthright nature, many consider her odd. She is to be married shortly to Lord Castleton, and has concluded that some scientific research into what goes on between a man and a woman in private is very necessary before making her vows. The only thing she requires? The perfect research partner. Enter Cross, the tall, sexy, witty, red-headed bookkeeper of London's most notorious gaming hell, The Fallen Angel. Cross feels a strong pull toward Pippa. He finds her funny and fascinating. He knows there are reasons he has to resist, and she knows he is the only man to help her. Who will win this battle of wills, and what will the ultimate outcome be?
I think it would be easier and faster to tell you what I *didn't* love about this story than what I did. The only problem with that? I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS STORY!!! I truly feel like I shouldn't even waste time with a review. I should just tell you to BUY THE %*+#[\!?&!@ BOOK on release day (January 29, 2013), and get ready to sigh, melt, smile, laugh and just feel really, really good! But, okay, I guess I owe it to the book to say a little more than that. So, let me share with you my very favorite things about One Good Earl Deserves A Lover.
Hands down, no contest whatsoever, Pippa is my very favorite thing about this story. She *makes* this story, and she has to be a contender for my favorite historical romance heroine, ever! I adored her, right from the start! She's really super SMART, funny, self-deprecating and totally unique. She's completely confident and unshakable in some areas of her life, and, yet, vulnerable and uncertain in others. She's beautifully self-aware, though. She knows herself well. Sarah MacLean wrote this character *flawlessly*!! Pippa is multi-layered and expressed so well in this story. Love, love, LOVE her!
Cross is plagued by extreme guilt and shame when it comes to his family. He is charming and sexy, but I found him most so during those moments when he observes Pippa and admires and appreciates the qualities which others think make her odd. The fact that he sees exactly why she is so worthy of his love (and lust) endears him to me greatly.
I come back to Sarah MacLean and her brilliant writing. I just cannot say enough good things about this author. She *always* gives us a great story. But, this one? This one is a favorite of mine. The writing just thoroughly flows! It is smooth and lovely. The story pacing, the dialog.....every single thing is PERFECTION!
To be honest, the entire time I was reading this book I had a huge smile on my face. Sarah MacLean's writing, her storytelling, her characters....they all combine to make me so d@mn happy! Sarah's stories are humorous, smart and sexy. Each book seems to have the perfect blend of all three. Are they absolutely historically accurate and full of intricate detail? Nope. And, I'll tell you right now, her books don't need it, and I wouldn't want it. These books *entertain*. They make us laugh and cheer and sigh. I have yet to read a book by Sarah MacLean and not feel better when I'm done than I did before I started. Honestly? Who wouldn't want a gift and a talent like that? LOVE this author!!
Now, I *am* just going to say it. GO BUY THE BOOK! I dare you not to love it;)
**ARC courtesy of Avon via Edelweiss
5 Stars
I adore you, Sarah MacLean!! Your stories make me so idiotically happy;) Seriously, this is Sarah MacLean at her *very* best, doing what she does so well. This new series of hers, somehow, continues to get better with this second book, One Good Earl Deserves A Lover. I do believe this is my favorite book of hers to date!
Lady Philippa (Pippa) Marbury is a true individual. With her glasses, her brilliant and scientific mind, and her forthright nature, many consider her odd. She is to be married shortly to Lord Castleton, and has concluded that some scientific research into what goes on between a man and a woman in private is very necessary before making her vows. The only thing she requires? The perfect research partner. Enter Cross, the tall, sexy, witty, red-headed bookkeeper of London's most notorious gaming hell, The Fallen Angel. Cross feels a strong pull toward Pippa. He finds her funny and fascinating. He knows there are reasons he has to resist, and she knows he is the only man to help her. Who will win this battle of wills, and what will the ultimate outcome be?
I think it would be easier and faster to tell you what I *didn't* love about this story than what I did. The only problem with that? I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS STORY!!! I truly feel like I shouldn't even waste time with a review. I should just tell you to BUY THE %*+#[\!?&!@ BOOK on release day (January 29, 2013), and get ready to sigh, melt, smile, laugh and just feel really, really good! But, okay, I guess I owe it to the book to say a little more than that. So, let me share with you my very favorite things about One Good Earl Deserves A Lover.
Hands down, no contest whatsoever, Pippa is my very favorite thing about this story. She *makes* this story, and she has to be a contender for my favorite historical romance heroine, ever! I adored her, right from the start! She's really super SMART, funny, self-deprecating and totally unique. She's completely confident and unshakable in some areas of her life, and, yet, vulnerable and uncertain in others. She's beautifully self-aware, though. She knows herself well. Sarah MacLean wrote this character *flawlessly*!! Pippa is multi-layered and expressed so well in this story. Love, love, LOVE her!
Cross is plagued by extreme guilt and shame when it comes to his family. He is charming and sexy, but I found him most so during those moments when he observes Pippa and admires and appreciates the qualities which others think make her odd. The fact that he sees exactly why she is so worthy of his love (and lust) endears him to me greatly.
I come back to Sarah MacLean and her brilliant writing. I just cannot say enough good things about this author. She *always* gives us a great story. But, this one? This one is a favorite of mine. The writing just thoroughly flows! It is smooth and lovely. The story pacing, the dialog.....every single thing is PERFECTION!
To be honest, the entire time I was reading this book I had a huge smile on my face. Sarah MacLean's writing, her storytelling, her characters....they all combine to make me so d@mn happy! Sarah's stories are humorous, smart and sexy. Each book seems to have the perfect blend of all three. Are they absolutely historically accurate and full of intricate detail? Nope. And, I'll tell you right now, her books don't need it, and I wouldn't want it. These books *entertain*. They make us laugh and cheer and sigh. I have yet to read a book by Sarah MacLean and not feel better when I'm done than I did before I started. Honestly? Who wouldn't want a gift and a talent like that? LOVE this author!!
Now, I *am* just going to say it. GO BUY THE BOOK! I dare you not to love it;)
**ARC courtesy of Avon via Edelweiss
May 3, 2015
Full review posted! 5 heartwarming beautiful gambling stars!
"Are you an accounting fairy sent in the dead of night to check my figures?"
It's one o'clock in the afternoon", she said matter-of-factly, and he had an intense desire to take her spectacles from her face and kiss her senseless, just to see what this odd young woman would say.
***
She took a deep breath. Released it. "I require ruination. And I hear you are an expert on the subject."
Say hello to Cross!
Lady Philippa is concerned. In fourteen days, she is marrying Lord Castleton. And as the quirky nerd and research loving female that she is, she pursues the only logical course of action. She must enlist one of London's most notorious rogue and scoundrel as her research associate to learn about the carnal side of marriage.
"I quite like children, so I'm sure that bit will be fine. But you see, I require the understanding in question. And, since you are purported to be such an expert on the topic, I could not imagine anyone better to assist me in my research."
"The topic of children?"
She sighed her frustration. "The topic of breeding."
***
"What do you want to know?"
She blinked at him with those big blue eyes and said, as though it was a perfectly reasonable thing to say, "Everything."
This book has it all! It is light and dark. It is quirky and fun. All at the same time as it is deeply sensual. It is as rare as Pippa’s pink rose.
For me, the brightest spot was Pippa! I adored her. She made the book for me (although Cross was pretty hot too). They were so perfect for each other. Pippa is a bespectacled highly intelligent young lady in a time where women was supposed to be insipid misses. She is like no other romance heroine I’ve ever met.
"What did you mean by it?"
"I would rather not tell you."
One side of his mouth kicked up. Even now, when she no doubt wished to do so, she would not lie. "And yet I would know"
She spoke to her hands. "It's just that...since we met, I have been rather...well, fascinated by..."
You.
Say it, he willed, not entirely certain what he would do if she did, but willing himself to the test.
She took another breath. "By your bones."
It is not to be missed! Do yourself a favor and bump up this amazing gem and this wonderful series to the top of your pile. It is Ocean's 13 meets Devil in Winter meets Sarah McLean's finest work meets the quirkiness of A Week to Be Wicked. It sure is one of a kind!
"Are you an accounting fairy sent in the dead of night to check my figures?"
It's one o'clock in the afternoon", she said matter-of-factly, and he had an intense desire to take her spectacles from her face and kiss her senseless, just to see what this odd young woman would say.
***
She took a deep breath. Released it. "I require ruination. And I hear you are an expert on the subject."
Say hello to Cross!
Lady Philippa is concerned. In fourteen days, she is marrying Lord Castleton. And as the quirky nerd and research loving female that she is, she pursues the only logical course of action. She must enlist one of London's most notorious rogue and scoundrel as her research associate to learn about the carnal side of marriage.
"I quite like children, so I'm sure that bit will be fine. But you see, I require the understanding in question. And, since you are purported to be such an expert on the topic, I could not imagine anyone better to assist me in my research."
"The topic of children?"
She sighed her frustration. "The topic of breeding."
***
"What do you want to know?"
She blinked at him with those big blue eyes and said, as though it was a perfectly reasonable thing to say, "Everything."
This book has it all! It is light and dark. It is quirky and fun. All at the same time as it is deeply sensual. It is as rare as Pippa’s pink rose.
For me, the brightest spot was Pippa! I adored her. She made the book for me (although Cross was pretty hot too). They were so perfect for each other. Pippa is a bespectacled highly intelligent young lady in a time where women was supposed to be insipid misses. She is like no other romance heroine I’ve ever met.
"What did you mean by it?"
"I would rather not tell you."
One side of his mouth kicked up. Even now, when she no doubt wished to do so, she would not lie. "And yet I would know"
She spoke to her hands. "It's just that...since we met, I have been rather...well, fascinated by..."
You.
Say it, he willed, not entirely certain what he would do if she did, but willing himself to the test.
She took another breath. "By your bones."
It is not to be missed! Do yourself a favor and bump up this amazing gem and this wonderful series to the top of your pile. It is Ocean's 13 meets Devil in Winter meets Sarah McLean's finest work meets the quirkiness of A Week to Be Wicked. It sure is one of a kind!
January 5, 2013
Review completed January 4, 2013
..."Temptation - it turns you. It makes you into something you never dreamed, it presses you to give up everything you ever loved, it calls you to sell your soul for one, fleeting moment."...."It makes you ache," he whispered, and she watched the curve of his lips in the darkness. "You'll make any promise, swear any oath. For one...perfect...unsoiled taste."
5+ Delicious! Dazzling! Magnificent! Breathtaking Stars!
Ms. MacLean, this book is evidence of why I consider you a star!
You give us alpha heroes that are broken, captivating, redeemable, and scorching hot!; heroines who are SMART, funny, and doesn't fit the peg; romance that takes my breath away; sexual tension that is beyond explanation; and combustible love scenes!
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is the second installment in Sarah MacLean’s Lord of Scoundrels series and easily one of the BEST books I’ve read in 2012! Lady Philippa (Pippa) Marbury has only a few weeks until her marriage and she’s determined to know what happens in the marriage bed. And who better to be the subject of her little experiment than Cross, one of the owners of London’s most notorious gaming hells. He certainly has the reputation with the ladies, making him the perfect candidate.
Pippa’s not like most young women of the day as she prefers knowledge over fashion. She’d much rather be conducting one of her scientific experiments than be bothered with what ball she may be attending or how pretty she can make herself look. I immediately fell in love with this endearing character and was rooting for her all the way. She’s smart, inquisitive, determined and now has a permanent place on my favorite heroine shelf.
Jasper Arlesey, Earl Harlow aka Cross is a complex man with many secrets and is tortured by his demons. He was left speechless by Pippa’s proposition and soon gets firsthand knowledge of her dogmatic determination. She doesn’t want to actually engage in the sexual act, but needs a better understanding of carnal lust and appetites. As she continues to pursue his help, he finds himself having to fight the magnetic pull and bank down his desire for her. The characteristics that others label as odd are the very things that he finds enchanting. Cross is a hero who stole my heart early on and I wanted desperately for him to find the peace he needed along with healing for his tortured soul. I loved this sinfully sexy man.
Once again the author has crafted a unique blend of characters carrying me forward into their world and experiencing each emotion they encountered. I devoured every word and could hardly put it down. The sensuality, the temptation, the sexual tension is palpable and beautifully displayed. Each segment of their journey enveloped me in a cocoon of anticipated pleasure. As an added bonus, included is one of the best foreplay scenes I’ve read and it was breathtaking!
Ms. MacLean has given a masterpiece in the HR genre. She excels in storytelling and gives complex characters, well fleshed out scenes and an H/h that you’ll not soon forget. The book is sensual, romantic, emotional, intense and breathtaking! You do not want to miss this spectacular love story!
** Many thanks to Avon via Edelweiss for the opportunity to read this ARC** It was a pleasure!
..."Temptation - it turns you. It makes you into something you never dreamed, it presses you to give up everything you ever loved, it calls you to sell your soul for one, fleeting moment."...."It makes you ache," he whispered, and she watched the curve of his lips in the darkness. "You'll make any promise, swear any oath. For one...perfect...unsoiled taste."
5+ Delicious! Dazzling! Magnificent! Breathtaking Stars!
Ms. MacLean, this book is evidence of why I consider you a star!
You give us alpha heroes that are broken, captivating, redeemable, and scorching hot!; heroines who are SMART, funny, and doesn't fit the peg; romance that takes my breath away; sexual tension that is beyond explanation; and combustible love scenes!
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is the second installment in Sarah MacLean’s Lord of Scoundrels series and easily one of the BEST books I’ve read in 2012! Lady Philippa (Pippa) Marbury has only a few weeks until her marriage and she’s determined to know what happens in the marriage bed. And who better to be the subject of her little experiment than Cross, one of the owners of London’s most notorious gaming hells. He certainly has the reputation with the ladies, making him the perfect candidate.
Pippa’s not like most young women of the day as she prefers knowledge over fashion. She’d much rather be conducting one of her scientific experiments than be bothered with what ball she may be attending or how pretty she can make herself look. I immediately fell in love with this endearing character and was rooting for her all the way. She’s smart, inquisitive, determined and now has a permanent place on my favorite heroine shelf.
Jasper Arlesey, Earl Harlow aka Cross is a complex man with many secrets and is tortured by his demons. He was left speechless by Pippa’s proposition and soon gets firsthand knowledge of her dogmatic determination. She doesn’t want to actually engage in the sexual act, but needs a better understanding of carnal lust and appetites. As she continues to pursue his help, he finds himself having to fight the magnetic pull and bank down his desire for her. The characteristics that others label as odd are the very things that he finds enchanting. Cross is a hero who stole my heart early on and I wanted desperately for him to find the peace he needed along with healing for his tortured soul. I loved this sinfully sexy man.
Once again the author has crafted a unique blend of characters carrying me forward into their world and experiencing each emotion they encountered. I devoured every word and could hardly put it down. The sensuality, the temptation, the sexual tension is palpable and beautifully displayed. Each segment of their journey enveloped me in a cocoon of anticipated pleasure. As an added bonus, included is one of the best foreplay scenes I’ve read and it was breathtaking!
Ms. MacLean has given a masterpiece in the HR genre. She excels in storytelling and gives complex characters, well fleshed out scenes and an H/h that you’ll not soon forget. The book is sensual, romantic, emotional, intense and breathtaking! You do not want to miss this spectacular love story!
** Many thanks to Avon via Edelweiss for the opportunity to read this ARC** It was a pleasure!
July 25, 2016
4++ HOT Sexual Tension Stars!
Wow, Sarah MacLean is easily becoming the historical romance author to beat. Her stories are so well crafted and honed, and the passion and sexual tension so damn thick! I can see why she is an automatic buy/read for so many historical romance fans.
This is Cross and Pippa's story, two brainiacs who believe in scientific proof over simple luck. With less than two weeks before her wedding, Pippa convinces Cross to help her with a research project so she will better understand the ways between a married man and woman. Shocked beyond belief, Cross thwarts her attempts over and over until he finally has no choice.
In truth, this story was downright ridiculous on so many levels, but I enjoyed every minute of it regardless! You never knew what these two were going to do next, and I certainly didn't see that ending coming. The passion between these two was AMAZINGLY HOT.
((((Oh my God, MacLean has mastered writing sexual tension.))))
I listened to this one on audiobook, and the narrator was fantastic.
Wow, Sarah MacLean is easily becoming the historical romance author to beat. Her stories are so well crafted and honed, and the passion and sexual tension so damn thick! I can see why she is an automatic buy/read for so many historical romance fans.
This is Cross and Pippa's story, two brainiacs who believe in scientific proof over simple luck. With less than two weeks before her wedding, Pippa convinces Cross to help her with a research project so she will better understand the ways between a married man and woman. Shocked beyond belief, Cross thwarts her attempts over and over until he finally has no choice.
In truth, this story was downright ridiculous on so many levels, but I enjoyed every minute of it regardless! You never knew what these two were going to do next, and I certainly didn't see that ending coming. The passion between these two was AMAZINGLY HOT.
((((Oh my God, MacLean has mastered writing sexual tension.))))
I listened to this one on audiobook, and the narrator was fantastic.
July 26, 2016
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. E 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.
This book was delightful. I loved it. I loved Pippa. I loved Cross. I thought the first book in the series was good but this was way better. Sweet, scientific, spectacled Pippa. Brooding, brash, broken Cross.
"You’re asking me to fuck you?"
Her eyes went wide.
"Do you know, I’ve never heard that word spoken aloud."
Pippa is due to marry a nice man. A Gentleman. A man who does not awaken any passion in her. She wants to experience the throes of passion, she wants the experience of ruination without the repercussions of ruination.
God help him, he wanted to kiss her senseless, odd or not. He wanted to kiss her senseless because she was odd.
She was temptation. She was torture
In all his life, there had never been anything Cross had wanted to do more than throw this strange woman down on his desk and give her precisely that for which she was asking. Desire was irrelevant. Or perhaps it was the only thing that was relevant. Either way, he could not assist Lady Philippa Marbury. She was the most dangerous female he’d ever met
Pippa believes that Cross is the man to help her with her ruination. Don’t want to say too much but it was a fast-paced, funny, sexy read. The build up of the sexual tension was great … and frustrating. The banter between the two was great also. A perfect match for each other.
"Where would you like to touch me, Pippa?"
"Everywhere."
It seemed there was such a thing as a broken heart
Temptation turns you. It makes you into something you never dreamed, it presses you to give up everything you ever loved, it calls you to sell your soul for one, fleeting moment.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS LUCK
"My whole life two and two has made four …."
And of course I got my Epilogue so I was extremely happy.
September 11, 2016
It sometimes happens that I'll be describing a book I'm in the middle of and find myself enumerating all the things I hate. Which leads me to ask myself (and my audience) "why the heck am I still reading this?" That is almost always a sign that I need to just stop the pain. That happened with this book at a bit over halfway in.
I think I got as far as I did because I really like Pippa. She's so rational and eager to get information and I like her intrepid approach to her problems. I particularly like that this includes braving a very off-putting Cross and attempting to swing him to be her research assistant in the important matters of what to expect in the marriage bed. Her intended is a bit simple and she's not at all sanguine about him knowing what to do, so she needs some details she doesn't think she can get from books. So, given that Cross' name keeps coming up as a subject-matter expert, she goes to him with a proposition. Kinda literally. This was delightful.
Unfortunately, Cross is an unmitigated disaster. At the halfway point, he's so dedicated to self-flagellation that he has been nothing but one disappointment after another. His entire resistance is that "I destroy everything good and I should have died instead of my righteous brother and I suck so I can't have anything nice and must be off-putting to everybody possible." Which might have functioned as an okay starting point, but clinging so desperately to his poor-me schtick that he's made literally zero progress, and has, indeed, doubled-down on the self-hate leaves me cold. Oh, and add that he's actively cheating in his "games" with Pippa and I just can't stand to stay with him.
This is the second in this series where the hero had this problem so I'm pretty sure I won't be seeking out the next. What a waste.
I think I got as far as I did because I really like Pippa. She's so rational and eager to get information and I like her intrepid approach to her problems. I particularly like that this includes braving a very off-putting Cross and attempting to swing him to be her research assistant in the important matters of what to expect in the marriage bed. Her intended is a bit simple and she's not at all sanguine about him knowing what to do, so she needs some details she doesn't think she can get from books. So, given that Cross' name keeps coming up as a subject-matter expert, she goes to him with a proposition. Kinda literally. This was delightful.
Unfortunately, Cross is an unmitigated disaster. At the halfway point, he's so dedicated to self-flagellation that he has been nothing but one disappointment after another. His entire resistance is that "I destroy everything good and I should have died instead of my righteous brother and I suck so I can't have anything nice and must be off-putting to everybody possible." Which might have functioned as an okay starting point, but clinging so desperately to his poor-me schtick that he's made literally zero progress, and has, indeed, doubled-down on the self-hate leaves me cold. Oh, and add that he's actively cheating in his "games" with Pippa and I just can't stand to stay with him.
This is the second in this series where the hero had this problem so I'm pretty sure I won't be seeking out the next. What a waste.
September 26, 2020
“I find that I am no longer willing to leave my work to chance. Nor my life.”
January 15, 2018
Re-Read: January 13, 2018
This is the second book in Sarah MacLean's "The Rules of Scoundrels" series, and so far it's my favorite!!
I LOVED PIPPA!!
When I was reading this book and Phillipa (Pippa) was describing her dilemma to Cross, that she felt quite unprepared and had no idea about the activities that take place after the marriage..in bed, and that "she found the marriage vows rather specious".. actually the bit before the vows, specifically the part that says, "to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding."
Pippa goes on to explain to Cross, "that it's critical that I know what to expect. That I am prepared for it. Well. Don't you see? This is all wrapped up in the single most important task I shall have as wife."
Cross: "Which is?"
Pippa: "Procreation."
Pippa then proposes that Cross be her research associate by 'shedding' some light on the actual activity, and her research in carnal lust and appetites.
Pippa wants Cross to give her a "lecture of sorts. In animal husbandry. Of sorts."
Pippa then offers to pay him for his services starting at £25, then ups it to £50. At this point in the conversation, Cross is seriously tempted to do it for free, that never in his life has Cross wanted to throw this strange woman down on his desk and give her exactly what she was asking for.
To Cross, Pippa was probably the most dangerous woman he has ever encountered. She is highly intelligent, brave, bold, eccentric, and beautiful.
.. and that's only the first chapter!!
I was laughing my ass off during this whole conversation.
It was so well written, and captured my attention right from the get-go, that I COULDN'T WAIT to see what would happen next!
Background on Cross
Cross is the second son of an Earl, who was described by his father as 'the replacement' child. Who six years earlier was a notorious rake, rogue and scoundrel.
Then one night, all that changed when his older brother (Viscount Baine) was killed, and he (Jasper Arlesey) became Earl Harlow.
The only words his father said to him before he walked away from his family were "it should have been you", and his mother couldn't look at, or speak to him.
For six years Cross (Jasper) has been living with that guilt, and he's been punishing himself by becoming a partner, living at, acting as an enforcer when necessary, and doing the books at one of London's most successful gaming hell's. He's also been celibate, because he believes that had he done what he was supposed to be doing the night of his brother's tragic accident instead of sleeping around, it would have been him dead, and not his brother.
In my mind when Ms. MacLean was describing Cross," a handsome, tall ginger" (not only this looks, but his actions)
this is who I pictured
.. and he's a bad-ass too!
This is how I pictured Pippa in my head.
All I can say is that I LOVED this story!
I really enjoyed the characters. The author's writing was brilliant, and her story was an AMAZING read!
What started out as Pippa awkwardly propositioning Cross to be research associate to understand the 'mechanics' of breeding.. turned into Pippa and Cross developing a relationship, and eventually Pippa saving Cross (Jasper) from himself.
This was a beautiful story to read, and finished with an AWESOME Epilogue..YAY! Ms. MacLean, THANK YOU for that!!
This is the second book in Sarah MacLean's "The Rules of Scoundrels" series, and so far it's my favorite!!
I LOVED PIPPA!!
When I was reading this book and Phillipa (Pippa) was describing her dilemma to Cross, that she felt quite unprepared and had no idea about the activities that take place after the marriage..in bed, and that "she found the marriage vows rather specious".. actually the bit before the vows, specifically the part that says, "to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding."
Pippa goes on to explain to Cross, "that it's critical that I know what to expect. That I am prepared for it. Well. Don't you see? This is all wrapped up in the single most important task I shall have as wife."
Cross: "Which is?"
Pippa: "Procreation."
Pippa then proposes that Cross be her research associate by 'shedding' some light on the actual activity, and her research in carnal lust and appetites.
Pippa wants Cross to give her a "lecture of sorts. In animal husbandry. Of sorts."
Pippa then offers to pay him for his services starting at £25, then ups it to £50. At this point in the conversation, Cross is seriously tempted to do it for free, that never in his life has Cross wanted to throw this strange woman down on his desk and give her exactly what she was asking for.
To Cross, Pippa was probably the most dangerous woman he has ever encountered. She is highly intelligent, brave, bold, eccentric, and beautiful.
.. and that's only the first chapter!!
I was laughing my ass off during this whole conversation.
It was so well written, and captured my attention right from the get-go, that I COULDN'T WAIT to see what would happen next!
Background on Cross
Cross is the second son of an Earl, who was described by his father as 'the replacement' child. Who six years earlier was a notorious rake, rogue and scoundrel.
Then one night, all that changed when his older brother (Viscount Baine) was killed, and he (Jasper Arlesey) became Earl Harlow.
The only words his father said to him before he walked away from his family were "it should have been you", and his mother couldn't look at, or speak to him.
For six years Cross (Jasper) has been living with that guilt, and he's been punishing himself by becoming a partner, living at, acting as an enforcer when necessary, and doing the books at one of London's most successful gaming hell's. He's also been celibate, because he believes that had he done what he was supposed to be doing the night of his brother's tragic accident instead of sleeping around, it would have been him dead, and not his brother.
In my mind when Ms. MacLean was describing Cross," a handsome, tall ginger" (not only this looks, but his actions)
this is who I pictured
.. and he's a bad-ass too!
This is how I pictured Pippa in my head.
All I can say is that I LOVED this story!
I really enjoyed the characters. The author's writing was brilliant, and her story was an AMAZING read!
What started out as Pippa awkwardly propositioning Cross to be research associate to understand the 'mechanics' of breeding.. turned into Pippa and Cross developing a relationship, and eventually Pippa saving Cross (Jasper) from himself.
This was a beautiful story to read, and finished with an AWESOME Epilogue..YAY! Ms. MacLean, THANK YOU for that!!
February 25, 2019
Note to self : yes, absolutely, the story you thought you'd be getting will most likely be one million times better than what you'll get and you should know better by now. Uuugh. Tentative 2 stars leaning on 1 star.
February 5, 2013
I found the set-up in the beginning of this book to be so far-fetched that I could not buy into it, therefore setting a frustrating tone for this book. Pippa is engaged to be married to an Earl. It is not a love match, rather she is the last of her sisters to get married and her father thinks she will do well by this man. He is a kind man, but more interested in his dogs rather than Pippa. Pippa is very smart and obsessed with science and horticulture. She realizes she really has no idea what to do on her wedding night so she decides to go to a notorious gaming hell that her Brother in-law owns with three other men. She would never tell her brother in-law of her plans, but she knows the man who goes by Cross (who is secretly Jasper Arlesey, Earl Harlow but she doesn’t know this) might help her education. She doesn’t want to have sex, she just wants to be lectured about the subject.
Cross has been estranged from his family for six years, running away from his title after his brother died tragically. He now is part owner of The Angel and keeps their books. He is a well known womanizer in his past, although is trying to lead a more honorable life. When Pippa shows up at his door demanding improper things, he immediately pushes her away, but he doesn’t realize just how stubborn she can be.
As I said at the beginning, I never bought into the fact that Pippa would go to this gaming hell and demand to be taught about sex. It just didn’t fit in with her character. By all accounts I should like an odd bird heroine. She wears glasses and is a bit awkward. But I couldn’t reconcile her behavior of leaving her house and doing all these secret things. She is book smart, not street smart and after awhile her actions annoyed me.
Cross on the other hand – I understood him better. I like how conflicted he is – broken over the estrangement of his family, and how the now bitter man molds to the previous scoundrel.
As their romance builds through this book, I continuously had a thought. Deep down, Pippa is starved for loving attention. Her sisters are selfish, her mother is not attentive and her fiancé could care less about physical attraction. There is a point where things heat up between Pippa and Cross and she asks him, if he wants her. It is a very moving scene. But I kept thinking – Cross is the only man that has ever touched her in a romantic way. That has ever had an intellectual discussion with her. Is it really true love with Cross, or would she fall into the arms of any man who gave her the attention she deserved? I felt their lust but I never felt their love. I felt like Pippa was still too innocent and naïve to really know what true love is. She lusted after the man who gave her physical pleasure. But would she lust after another man if he did the same?
All that being said, I found out Temple’s book is next (he is another owner) and I about fell off my chair. He intrigues me so darn much. I think this author has a cute and witty voice and I still anticipate her books. This one just didn't do it for me.
Rating: C
Cross has been estranged from his family for six years, running away from his title after his brother died tragically. He now is part owner of The Angel and keeps their books. He is a well known womanizer in his past, although is trying to lead a more honorable life. When Pippa shows up at his door demanding improper things, he immediately pushes her away, but he doesn’t realize just how stubborn she can be.
As I said at the beginning, I never bought into the fact that Pippa would go to this gaming hell and demand to be taught about sex. It just didn’t fit in with her character. By all accounts I should like an odd bird heroine. She wears glasses and is a bit awkward. But I couldn’t reconcile her behavior of leaving her house and doing all these secret things. She is book smart, not street smart and after awhile her actions annoyed me.
Cross on the other hand – I understood him better. I like how conflicted he is – broken over the estrangement of his family, and how the now bitter man molds to the previous scoundrel.
As their romance builds through this book, I continuously had a thought. Deep down, Pippa is starved for loving attention. Her sisters are selfish, her mother is not attentive and her fiancé could care less about physical attraction. There is a point where things heat up between Pippa and Cross and she asks him, if he wants her. It is a very moving scene. But I kept thinking – Cross is the only man that has ever touched her in a romantic way. That has ever had an intellectual discussion with her. Is it really true love with Cross, or would she fall into the arms of any man who gave her the attention she deserved? I felt their lust but I never felt their love. I felt like Pippa was still too innocent and naïve to really know what true love is. She lusted after the man who gave her physical pleasure. But would she lust after another man if he did the same?
All that being said, I found out Temple’s book is next (he is another owner) and I about fell off my chair. He intrigues me so darn much. I think this author has a cute and witty voice and I still anticipate her books. This one just didn't do it for me.
Rating: C
January 4, 2021
Tras el fiasco que supuso para mí el primer libro de esta serie, “Amor con amor se paga” me ha devuelto la fe en una autora un tanto desigual, que me enamoró con “Nueve reglas que romper para conquistar a un granuja”, uno de mis libros favoritos de romántica, pero que hasta ahora no había logrado convencerme con ninguna novela más.
La trama de este libro es ágil y muy amena, todo transcurre en pocos días, y cuenta con dos protagonistas con una química bestial, Cross y Pippa, dos personajes muy inteligentes, cuyos tiras y aflojas verbales me han tenido muy entretenida. La protagonista femenina me ha parecido maravillosa: una heroína con gafas, mente científica y brutalmente honesta, rara para lo que se consideraba normal en la época. Y qué decir de Cross, su dirty talk te desintegra las enaguas en un abrir y cerrar de ojos.
A pesar de sus mentes lógicas, la pasión que se desata entre ellos traspasa las páginas y de qué manera. La escena sobre la tentación es 🔥🔥🔥 y ¡sin que el héroe utilice las manos!
La autora deja algunos cabos sueltos, de ahí que no le dé las 5 estrellas, que entiendo se resolverán en los próximos libros.
#popsugar21 Reto 17: Un libro que tenga el mismo título que una canción
La trama de este libro es ágil y muy amena, todo transcurre en pocos días, y cuenta con dos protagonistas con una química bestial, Cross y Pippa, dos personajes muy inteligentes, cuyos tiras y aflojas verbales me han tenido muy entretenida. La protagonista femenina me ha parecido maravillosa: una heroína con gafas, mente científica y brutalmente honesta, rara para lo que se consideraba normal en la época. Y qué decir de Cross, su dirty talk te desintegra las enaguas en un abrir y cerrar de ojos.
A pesar de sus mentes lógicas, la pasión que se desata entre ellos traspasa las páginas y de qué manera. La escena sobre la tentación es 🔥🔥🔥 y ¡sin que el héroe utilice las manos!
La autora deja algunos cabos sueltos, de ahí que no le dé las 5 estrellas, que entiendo se resolverán en los próximos libros.
#popsugar21 Reto 17: Un libro que tenga el mismo título que una canción
July 25, 2013
Thank you, UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish for the use of these photos, taken by her daughter, Megan, from Dhes's very own rose garden!
★★★★☆ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I just love Rosalyn Landor's narrations of Historical Romances. She always delivers. Her diction is perfect, her characters distinguishable, her tone and pacing appropriate to the context. I cannot sing her praises high enough. If you're looking to cut your teeth on audio, try one of her excellent readings.
I loved the characters in this story, by the talented Miss Sarah MacLean: Bespectacled Philippa Marbury - or Pippa - is intelligent, or rather brilliant, and ahead of her time. As a fianced woman and scientist, she is curious about the marriage bed. Of course, there is more to it than that, but I don’t want to spoil it for you. Nevertheless, being the epitome of a researcher that she is, she seeks out the renowned Cross, AKA Jasper Arlesey, Earl Harlow, a man haunted by his past and working as an accountant in a gaming hell known as The Fallen Angel.
The dialogue is witty and it was interesting to see these two come to their happily ever after, but I must admit it took awhile.
Maybe I was in my head too much for this one; however, I felt Jasper’s - or Cross’s - reputation was deserved of his last incarnation, not his current one. I totally agree with Annie the Destroyer *Leather Lust* in her GoodReads review: if I had been given Pippa’s reason earlier for seeking Cross out, I think I would bought into this story-line more. Plus, for me, it took too long to get these two together.
Still, some people are going to love this story, this engaging couple, the way Pippa’s mind works, and Jasper’s knack for foreplay. I know there will be a lot of ★★★★★ reviews. I hope you’re one of them.
By the way, Ms. Landor’s surprising stand-out character for me was Lord Castleton, Pippa’s fiancé, who is not the “sharpest of wits.” She infused his temperament with compassion and a gentle, self-deprecating sense of self-awareness.
The Rules of Scoundrels
★★★★☆ (This is a review of the audiobook.) I just love Rosalyn Landor's narrations of Historical Romances. She always delivers. Her diction is perfect, her characters distinguishable, her tone and pacing appropriate to the context. I cannot sing her praises high enough. If you're looking to cut your teeth on audio, try one of her excellent readings.
I loved the characters in this story, by the talented Miss Sarah MacLean: Bespectacled Philippa Marbury - or Pippa - is intelligent, or rather brilliant, and ahead of her time. As a fianced woman and scientist, she is curious about the marriage bed. Of course, there is more to it than that, but I don’t want to spoil it for you. Nevertheless, being the epitome of a researcher that she is, she seeks out the renowned Cross, AKA Jasper Arlesey, Earl Harlow, a man haunted by his past and working as an accountant in a gaming hell known as The Fallen Angel.
The dialogue is witty and it was interesting to see these two come to their happily ever after, but I must admit it took awhile.
Maybe I was in my head too much for this one; however, I felt Jasper’s - or Cross’s - reputation was deserved of his last incarnation, not his current one. I totally agree with Annie the Destroyer *Leather Lust* in her GoodReads review: if I had been given Pippa’s reason earlier for seeking Cross out, I think I would bought into this story-line more. Plus, for me, it took too long to get these two together.
Still, some people are going to love this story, this engaging couple, the way Pippa’s mind works, and Jasper’s knack for foreplay. I know there will be a lot of ★★★★★ reviews. I hope you’re one of them.
By the way, Ms. Landor’s surprising stand-out character for me was Lord Castleton, Pippa’s fiancé, who is not the “sharpest of wits.” She infused his temperament with compassion and a gentle, self-deprecating sense of self-awareness.
The Rules of Scoundrels
July 21, 2021
Sale Alert: Amazon Daily Deal 21Jul21 $0.99
I LOVE Pippa Marbury. She is a breath of fresh air. Instead of being the picture of propriety she dismisses many of society’s dos and don’ts because well they are just silly. Why shouldn’t she walk the streets of London as women have had the use of bipedal locomotion since Eve. Why would she take a chaperone to The Angel as she asks the co-owner Cross to help her understand carnal lusts? That would be counterproductive and make asking for help in ruination impossible, of course and illogical. She is so forthright and honest in her request that she is utterly adorable. Cross has the best reputation as a rake with much emphasis on sex not that Pippa believes all the rumors.
She waved a hand ”Well, some of it is utter nonsense. They say for example, that you can relieve a lady of her clothing without the use of your hands.”
“Do They?”
She smiled “Silly, I know. I definitely do not believe that.”
“Why not?”
“In the absence of physical force, an object at rest remains at rest.” She explained.
Omg she just quoted Newton’s Laws geekasm and little does she know there is a great scene latter involving no hands.
The interactions between Pippa and Cross are so much fun I believe I whole heartedly belly laughed more than once. She is so innocent yet says the most peculiar spectacular things that just dumbfound him. It is as if she doesn’t have a filter and really is so inquisitive and curious that no matter what her mind is thinking she says it out loud. I love that she is so odd and unusual but instead of Cross trying to change her he find everything about the way she is intriguing and sexy. I loved this because I could relate I mean how many of us are sexy in the beautiful seductress kind of way.
”And what of Miss Tasser’s smolder? Can you teach me to do that? It seems like it will help. With the tempting”
He didn’t look at her. He couldn’t But he also couldn’t stop himself from saying, “You don’t need to smolder.”
She paused. “I don’t?”
“No. You are tempting in a different way.”
While it takes a while to get to the juicy parts of the story the seduction and sexual tension of it is extraordinarily sweet.
Pippa is a great heroine in that while everyone is trying to “save” her she decides that she doesn’t need or want to be saved and if anyone is going to save anyone she would do the saving herself. I loved that about her. She is exactly how I imagine the strong women thirsty for knowledge in the 20th century would be if they were stuck in 1830s unable to attend university and left to their own devices to discover the world. Is the plot line completely believable? Probably not. Did I care at any time throughout the story? Definitely not. Pippa is my girl and I found this book fun, exciting and wonderfully engaging.
I LOVE Pippa Marbury. She is a breath of fresh air. Instead of being the picture of propriety she dismisses many of society’s dos and don’ts because well they are just silly. Why shouldn’t she walk the streets of London as women have had the use of bipedal locomotion since Eve. Why would she take a chaperone to The Angel as she asks the co-owner Cross to help her understand carnal lusts? That would be counterproductive and make asking for help in ruination impossible, of course and illogical. She is so forthright and honest in her request that she is utterly adorable. Cross has the best reputation as a rake with much emphasis on sex not that Pippa believes all the rumors.
She waved a hand ”Well, some of it is utter nonsense. They say for example, that you can relieve a lady of her clothing without the use of your hands.”
“Do They?”
She smiled “Silly, I know. I definitely do not believe that.”
“Why not?”
“In the absence of physical force, an object at rest remains at rest.” She explained.
Omg she just quoted Newton’s Laws geekasm and little does she know there is a great scene latter involving no hands.
The interactions between Pippa and Cross are so much fun I believe I whole heartedly belly laughed more than once. She is so innocent yet says the most peculiar spectacular things that just dumbfound him. It is as if she doesn’t have a filter and really is so inquisitive and curious that no matter what her mind is thinking she says it out loud. I love that she is so odd and unusual but instead of Cross trying to change her he find everything about the way she is intriguing and sexy. I loved this because I could relate I mean how many of us are sexy in the beautiful seductress kind of way.
”And what of Miss Tasser’s smolder? Can you teach me to do that? It seems like it will help. With the tempting”
He didn’t look at her. He couldn’t But he also couldn’t stop himself from saying, “You don’t need to smolder.”
She paused. “I don’t?”
“No. You are tempting in a different way.”
While it takes a while to get to the juicy parts of the story the seduction and sexual tension of it is extraordinarily sweet.
Pippa is a great heroine in that while everyone is trying to “save” her she decides that she doesn’t need or want to be saved and if anyone is going to save anyone she would do the saving herself. I loved that about her. She is exactly how I imagine the strong women thirsty for knowledge in the 20th century would be if they were stuck in 1830s unable to attend university and left to their own devices to discover the world. Is the plot line completely believable? Probably not. Did I care at any time throughout the story? Definitely not. Pippa is my girl and I found this book fun, exciting and wonderfully engaging.
May 23, 2017
Malo, malo, no me ha gustado nada. Comienza bastante prometedor al presentar los conflictos que desencadenarán la trama, pero casi inmediatamente se transforma en un libro en exceso repetitivo, con diálogos y explicaciones extensísimos que terminan aburriendo, pues se van dando vuelta sobre lo mismo.
De hecho, hasta más de la mitad de la novela no se aborda otra cosa que la insistencia de la protagonista en comprender, antes de casarse, lo que le espera en su futura vida conyugal, para lo que recurre infructuosamente a distintos personajes para que la ayuden en esta "investigación", incluyendo a uno de los socios de El Ángel Caído. Sin embargo, esta insistencia carece del encanto que se espera en este género, por el contrario, la convierte en un personaje fastidioso y antipático.
De hecho, hasta más de la mitad de la novela no se aborda otra cosa que la insistencia de la protagonista en comprender, antes de casarse, lo que le espera en su futura vida conyugal, para lo que recurre infructuosamente a distintos personajes para que la ayuden en esta "investigación", incluyendo a uno de los socios de El Ángel Caído. Sin embargo, esta insistencia carece del encanto que se espera en este género, por el contrario, la convierte en un personaje fastidioso y antipático.
December 1, 2016
OMG! These books... how I love them!!!
January 20, 2015
DNF at 20%.
This is probably one of those "It's not you, it's me" books.
I just didn't care about the characters at all.. I was particularly tired of Cross' tortured hero attitude and his "problem." I stand with Temple in this:
"There are ways of disappearing him."
Enough said.
This is probably one of those "It's not you, it's me" books.
I just didn't care about the characters at all.. I was particularly tired of Cross' tortured hero attitude and his "problem." I stand with Temple in this:
"There are ways of disappearing him."
Enough said.
February 2, 2013
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is dedicated to girls who wear glasses, and that alone was enough to win me over. Fortunately, the rest of the book is just as sweet as the dedication and I couldn't put it down until Cross and Pippa got their HEA.
This book is, for the most part, not bogged down with historical details, and I'm actually grateful for that in this case because it means the focus was more on the romance.
And wow, what a romance! Cross and Pippa are absolutely adorable together and their dialog was even more entertaining than Simon and Juliana's in Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart.
I warmed up to Pippa way before Cross, a rarity in most HRs. Because really, is there anything cuter than a heroine who tries to not get distracted by the smexiness of the hero by naming the bones in his body?
I loved Pippa's straightforward and plain manner, and while Cross isn't the most memorable character out there, they make such a fascinating pair that I came to care for him as well. My eyes even welled up with tears reading the epilogue because I'd become so emotionally invested in their romance and HEA.
At times heartbreakingly tragic, and at others cutely frivolous, One Good Earl Deserves a Lover was a riveting and emotional read throughout, and more than half the credit for that goes to Pippa's unique personality. I can't wait to read the sequel and find out more about the mysterious Temple in No Good Duke Goes Unpunished.
*ARC lent to me by Aly. You can read her review here.*
For more reviews, visit my blog:
This book is, for the most part, not bogged down with historical details, and I'm actually grateful for that in this case because it means the focus was more on the romance.
And wow, what a romance! Cross and Pippa are absolutely adorable together and their dialog was even more entertaining than Simon and Juliana's in Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart.
I warmed up to Pippa way before Cross, a rarity in most HRs. Because really, is there anything cuter than a heroine who tries to not get distracted by the smexiness of the hero by naming the bones in his body?
She spoke to her hands. “It’s just that...since we met, I have been rather...well, fascinated by...”
You.
Say it, he willed, not entirely certain what he would do if she did, but willing to put himself to the test.
She took another breath. “By your bones.”
Would she ever say anything expected? “My bones?”
She nodded. “Yes. Well, the muscles and tendons, too. Your forearms. Your thighs. And earlier—while I watched you drink whiskey—by your hands.”
Cross had been propositioned many times in his life. He’d made a career of refusing women’s requests. But he had never been complimented on his bones.
It was the strangest, sexiest confession he’d ever heard.
I loved Pippa's straightforward and plain manner, and while Cross isn't the most memorable character out there, they make such a fascinating pair that I came to care for him as well. My eyes even welled up with tears reading the epilogue because I'd become so emotionally invested in their romance and HEA.
“My whole life...two and two has made four.”
He nodded, utterly focused on her, and she loved him all over again for paying attention...for understanding her.
“But now...it’s all gone wrong.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t make four anymore. It makes you.”
At times heartbreakingly tragic, and at others cutely frivolous, One Good Earl Deserves a Lover was a riveting and emotional read throughout, and more than half the credit for that goes to Pippa's unique personality. I can't wait to read the sequel and find out more about the mysterious Temple in No Good Duke Goes Unpunished.
*ARC lent to me by Aly. You can read her review here.*
For more reviews, visit my blog:
December 17, 2022
I think Sarah Maclean isn't for me 😬
November 16, 2014
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is the perfect combination of passion, sexual tension, mischievous banter, and witty humor. This is the second impressive book in The Rules of Scoundrels series. This can be read as a stand-alone but I do highly recommend reading A Rogue by Any Other Name. I don’t read as much historical romance as I used to, but I’m completely addicted to Sarah MacLean’s writing. I always know she will entertain me with her clever writing and vivid characters that will stay with me for days. This story, however, went way beyond my expectations. It captured my attention at the beginning and held it all the way to the end. I absolutely love and adore this book.
Lady Phillipa, the bespectacled, brilliant fourth daughter of the Marquess, knows she is not like everyone else. Pippa is quite odd, actually. She knows that it's not proper for a woman not to be interested in gowns and balls and such. But she doesn't mind. She would rather read a book on human anatomy than attend a ball. She doesn't have much in common with her betrothal but that doesn't bother her. He is a good, kind, and decent man who asked her to marry him when she didn't think anyone would. But, now that she is betrothed, she realizes she doesn't know what happens in the marital bed. Oh, she has an idea from seeing bulls in action. But that will not do. And, because she cannot go into this marriage without any knowledge of what truly goes on between a man and wife in the bedroom, she's decided the best person to teach her carnal desires, passion, and temptation would be one of the most charming, notorious rakes, and part owner of a gaming hell. He also happens to be a man of science and the gaming hell's book keeper.
“I require ruination.”
Jasper Arlesey, Earl Harlow, notorious part owner of The Fallen Angel, is known simply as Cross. When Cross finds Pippa in his room, he is beside himself wondering who the odd woman with big blue eyes is. Standing in his office, his personal space, looking at his accounting books. Not only that, she is telling him that he made a mistake in one of his accounting ledgers. And then she further proceeds in her oddities by asking him to ruin her. Oh, but not in the biblical sense. She simply wants to be taught about what goes on in a man and woman's bed. Not that he isn't intrigued by this woman, but he knows he must immediately turn her down and send her away. But, to Cross' dismay, Pippa continues to barge into his life, determined to continue her research. This ingenious man has met his match in Pippa.
"I don't understand. What is temptation, then?"
"Temptation…" He hesitated, and she found herself leaning forward, eager for this curious, unsettling lesson. "Temptation turns you. It makes you into something you never dreamed, it presses you to give up everything you ever loved, it calls you to sell your soul for one, fleeting moment."(….)"It makes you ache," he whispered, and she watched the curve of his lips in the darkness. "You'll make any promise, swear any oath. For one…perfect…unsoiled taste."
First of all, nerd girls rule! I thought Pippa was a fantastic, whimsical, brainy heroine. I loved her raw honesty, scientific conversations, and her witty comebacks. But what Pippa discovers about Cross, as she is doing her research, is that he listens when she speaks and he likes her oddities. She suddenly finds herself thinking about this man who elicits feelings and desires that she's never felt before. Feelings and desires she should be feeling for her betrothed but doesn't. And now she is in quite the predicament, torn between keeping her word and following her heart's desire.
Cross is not the type of hero that stands out. But he is the perfect match for Pippa. He's just as intelligent, witty, and slightly odd as well. He may not be traditionally handsome but his intelligence and alpha tendencies made me swoon. He does his best to do the right thing by Pippa. He wants to protect her from himself, the gaming hell, and all that comes with being a part of his world. But Pippa is stubborn and clever. She eventually sees through his facade. Through her willingness and determination, she finds a way to save Cross, who has spent most of his life living with guilt and trying to make up for his past mistakes.
I really enjoyed reading as Pippa discovers passion, lust, and temptation for the first time. The chemistry between these two is a slow build but it's present from the beginning. The sexual tension made me all warm and tingly on the inside. Even though the sex scenes weren't as detailed as some of the scenes Maclean has written in the past, they were still very sensual and passionate. Especially one scene in particular, when Cross shows Pippa he can seduce her without removing her clothes. That scene would've fogged anyone's spectacles.
“I am going to ruin you, Pippa. I shall show you pleasure you’ve never known, the kind you’ve never dreamed. Over and over and over until you beg me never to stop.”
This story is not only romantic but also exciting to read these two battle it out, and try to out-smart one another. They are the perfect match. They each brought something special to the table the other didn’t even realize they were missing. I've realized, because of this book, that I'm highly curious about the mysterious Chase. There is definitely more to him that meets the eye. Who is this man? I'm dying to find out. But I'm still very excited for Temple's book, which is next. Oh, and by the way Ms. MacLean, I was on to the gambling scene at the end. Very clever, indeed. *wink*
Rating: A+
Heat: Warm-Hot
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review
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July 7, 2016
When I first started reading romance novels, it was strictly contemporary. I wouldn't touch anything else. I read all of my mother's contemporary romances (reading is in my blood) and ignored her historical romances. Then unfortunately I came up to a brick wall...I read every contemporary romance book in the house. What was a teen to do? Trek to the library via public transportation or give this historical romance thing a try? Being as I had to be thrifty with my money...I gave that book (I still remember the title) a try. I now had a new genre to explore AND more books to read. Win-win.
I will always have a special place in my reader's heart for historical romances because they frigging rock! There are a different set of rules, the romantic buildup can be quite epic and when in the right storyteller's hands, downright legendary. I am pretty picky with claiming favorite authors, I've dropped a couple after some time because reading tastes change. But Sarah MacLean is a permanent choice of mine. This book proved why I enjoy her words.
“My whole life . . . two and two has made four.”...
“But now . . . it’s all gone wrong.” She shook her head. “It doesn’t make four anymore. It makes you.”
In this day and age of dick pics, tumblr and instant gratification, it was such a breath of fresh air to get swept into the romance, the slow build of love. The glances, the utter seduction of a touch, stares that are weighted with emotions...it can be heady stuff. Lady Philippa yearned for "experimentation" aka lessons in temptation. I was right along with her. She meets Cross for scientific experiments on "ruination". Even offers to pay him!
“I am happy to pay you," she announced. "For your services."
A harsh, strangled sound cut through the room. It came from him. "Pay me."
She nodded. "Would say, twenty-five pounds do?"
"No."
Her brows knit together. "Of course, a person of your--prowess--is worth more. I apologize for the offense. Fifty? I'm afraid I can't go much higher. It's quite a bit of money. ”
The main characters, Cross and Lady Philipa/ Pippa were great! I love gamblers in romance...and can totally see this as a Regency homage to "Ocean's Eleven". (Just less people and different sort of funny hijinks)
Jasper, Earl Harlow aka Cross is physically my ideal hero. I have an affinity for ginger haired main characters. Cross is 6'6", intelligent, ginger haired, grey eyed and just the perfect package for me.
Pippa was clearly the perfect match for Cross. She's a great member to be on the spectacled nerdy girl team. (#nerdygirlsrock!) Is she my favorite bespectacled Regency heroine? Nope, that title will always belong to Catherine Marks. Pippa is innocent and forthright, honest and has a delicate naivete that just calls to me. Being brilliant does not equal being street smart.
“I suppose I shall start from the beginning. It appears that I'm utterly lacking in the knowledge of the basics. I mean, I understand dogs and horses and such, but humans...well, they're different. And so..." She paused, then rushed forward, the words pouring out of her. "I wonder if you could explain the use of the tongue. ”
She has a thirst for knowledge. And knows that it is odd for a female to want to know more. She owns this and resigned herself to marrying a simple man (not Cross) just because it's what is required of her and he treats her fairly. She wants to try to learn more about sex but no one would dare tell a respectable lady virgin about it. Which really sucks because if she was born in present time, all she's need is a few minutes and RedTube. But she needs to know the mechanics from the human perspective and that is why she shows up on the renowned scoundrel and rake, Cross's office. How else would she ever learn how to entice her future husband? ;D
Her quest for the forbidden knowledge? Hilarious.
The slow burn of these two highly intelligent yet lovesick fools? Wonderful!
There were a few minor issues like Lady Dunblade's eyes being remarked upon in Cross's office as brown and then at Pippa's house as being blue. (Little things I catch and I can't ignore.) The ending and how the bad guy was thwarted...why didn't those two just do it from the start? It would have saved a lot of heartache. But hey it's a story and a great one at that.
Am I following the rest of this series? What do you think?
“I do, love. I want you more than you could ever know. More than I could have ever dreamed. I want you enough for two men. For ten. ”
I'm one satisfied customer - 4.5 STARS! I will slow slap one time for the utter romance of it all.
July 30, 2014
I enjoyed this one more than the first, mostly because I just liked the characters better. MacLean's weakness, however, lies in her propensity to draw everything out to an exhausting degree.
But Cross and Pippa are just adorable.
But Cross and Pippa are just adorable.
April 23, 2023
Amor con amor se paga es casi, casi la novela que más me gusta de esta autora hasta el momento. Para mi gusto ha superado con creces la primera parte de esta serie. Y a hora toca esperar a la próxima entrega de estos canallas.
March 6, 2020
Esta es una novela de las que te guardas con mucho cariño para poder releerla cuando te apetezca y volver a disfrutarla. En mi opinión la mejor de la serie.
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