Saturday, March 4, 2017

Review: A Rogue By Any Other Name (The Rules of Scoundrels #1) by Sarah MacLean

A bookish challenge by Crystal @ Crystal Blogs Books & Ezrah @ I Heart Romance & YA
A collaboration challenge where Crystal recs contemporary romances to Ezrah & Ezrah recs Historical Romance to Crystal


A Rogue By Any Other Name
Author: Sarah MacLean
Series: The Rules of Scoundrels #1
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: February 28th 2012
Format: Paperback

Buy Links: Amazon - Barnes & Noble
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What a scoundrel wants, a scoundrel gets...

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

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

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



While I'm not normally a historical romance reader, I have read one other Sarah MacLean book. So when Ezrah challenged me to read A Rogue By Any Other Name, I knew right away that I was in for a fun time. Sarah's writing is like no other. She's hysterically witty. Her characters are charming, yet devilish. I adored Penelope. Excuse me, Lady Penelope. She's tenacious and determined to have a love match. She wants adventure with her rogue husband, even if it means going into the world of his gaming Hell. As much as I loved Bourne, there were so many moments when I wanted to slap him. Yes, I swooned at his aggressiveness. And yes, his take-no-prisoners attitude was freaking hot. I didn't like how harsh he was at times with Penelope. There were moments when his feelings towards her changed at the drop of a dime. I know that he's trying to protect the both of them (mostly from each other), I still felt like he had crossed the line some of the time.

Overall, I loved the time I spent getting to know Penelope and Bourne. I don't know if I'm going to continue on with the series, mostly because I don't really know much about it. I do think I will read Pippa and Cross's romance, which is the next book in the series. I am glad to have another MacLean book under my belt so I won't look like a complete newbie when Ezrah and I get to meet her later this month.

What do you think? Should I continue with the series? Which MacLean book would you recommend? I'm open to suggestions. And be sure to visit Ezrah's website to see her take on Sweetest Mistake by Candis Terry!


New York Times, Washington Post & USA Today bestseller Sarah MacLean is the author of historical romance novels that have been translated into more than twenty languages, and winner of back-to-back RITA Awards for best historical romance from the Romance Writers of America.

Sarah is a leading advocate for the romance genre, speaking widely on its place at the nexus of gender and cultural studies. She is the author of a monthly column celebrating the best of the genre for the Washington Post. Her work in support of romance and the women who read it earned her a place on Jezebel.com's Sheroes list of 2014 and led Entertainment Weekly to call her "gracefully furious." A graduate of Smith College & Harvard University, Sarah now lives in New York City with her husband and daughter.


1 comment:

  1. READ THE OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES PLEASE!!!! Cross and Pippa!! And of course, the last book - CHASE!! Because you just HAVE TO! I don't like the third book, though.. but it has a lot of great reviews so... you might like it :)

    Also Nine Rules to Break While Romancing a Rake is freaking AWESOME!!! <3

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