As a fan of the historical genre I'm delighted to bring you the compelling fourth and final installment in The Rule of Scoundrels series. Keep reading to get a glimpse of Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean along with my impressions of it. Learn even more about this book by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour. Make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $50 bookstore GC and a print set of the first three books in this series too!
Brilliant, driven, handsome-as-sin Duncan West is intrigued by the beautiful, ruined woman who is somehow connected to a world of darkness and sin. He knows she is more than she seems and he vows to uncover all of Georgiana’s secrets, laying bare her past, threatening her present, and risking all she holds dear...including her heart.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
As a fan of Ms. MacLean's I've gobbled up this series since the first installment and am sad to see it end, especially with the revelations at the end of the previous installment. What an intriguing way to end things though! With its immensely memorable and unexpected way of reacquainting us with a character we all thought we knew and were drawn to, the series closes on a very high note. Ms. MacLean has saved the best for last and crafted a heroine for the ages with Chase aka Anna aka Georgiana.
Georgiana came from a family of wealth and had the same dreams as every other young lady when fate turned on her and left her pregnant and alone after being tossed aside by her family. She's left scorned with her reputation in tatters. Whereas most heroines would fall apart completely, Georgiana showed why she's far from typical by surviving in society as Anna, the madam of a brothel, and as Chase, founder of a gaming hell. These roles give her access to men's deepest secrets which she'll need when it comes time for a husband. Georgiana may not believe in love but she wants a better life for her daughter than what she had. The only way to get that is by getting back into Society through a wealthy and powerful husband regardless of her feelings. To further her plan she enlists the aid of newspaperman Duncan who has secrets of his own and with whom their sexual tension is palpable. Georgiana is an utter delight, smart and sassy, and I enjoyed her snubbing Society's nose through her machinations. I applaud her devotion to her daughter and the values she instilled in her that were very forward thinking. She evolved through the series from a silly young girl into a formidable woman able to stand on her own despite every harsh word and deed Society heaped on her.
Duncan has been a part of all the previous stories and is on fine display here with his power and sexiness. He too knows much of Society's secrets and could ruin anyone with his words whenever he wants. He's the perfect person to aid Georgiana in her husband hunting but also a very big complication as he's fascinated by her and wants to get closer to her. At first it was purely sexual but getting to know her on a deeper level has him wanting her for more. His own secrets are weighing on him though and hold him back from fully committing to her. Further complicating their relationship is Georgiana's personas, particularly Chase, who Duncan sees as Georgiana's enemy. It all leads to a compelling and drawn out relationship that left me surprised and enthralled every step of the way. Duncan is a strong-willed yet caring man whose interactions with Georgiana are playful and ripe with sensuality. I was charmed by him as was Georgiana, against her will, and I was rooting for them to reach their HEA.
This was a cleverly crafted story with a memorable heroine going to unexpected lengths to survive. I normally don't care for children in romances but Caroline was entertaining with surprising depth for her age. The story had a nice flow and nicely balanced the witty and crackling banter between Georgiana and Duncan with their steamy sexual interludes. From start to finish it was easy to get caught up in this world Georgiana created and you can't help but root for her to overcome those who hurt her and regain her place in Society. Ms. MacLean once again proves why she's a powerhouse in the historical romance genre with this cleverly crafted and well-written tale. While I'm sad The Rule of Scoundrels series has ended, I'm excited for where she'll lead us next and if you haven't read her yet now's the time to start!
My rating for this is an A.
*I got this book from Edelweiss for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Sarah MacLean grew up in Rhode Island, obsessed with historical romance and bemoaning the fact that she was born far too late for her own season. Her love of all things historical helped to earn her degrees from Smith College and Harvard University before she finally set pen to paper and wrote her first book.
Sarah now lives in New York City with her husband, baby daughter, their dog, and a ridiculously large collection of romance novels. She loves to hear from readers.
Sarah now lives in New York City with her husband, baby daughter, their dog, and a ridiculously large collection of romance novels. She loves to hear from readers.
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ReplyDeleteOh, I want to see Duncan and Georgiana together! But first, they have to go through their own troubles and convictions...I understand but am frustrated by the push and pull of such a relationship. Sigh. I am getting anxious to read this entire story... Thanks for the post. jdh2690@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for for the wonderful giveaway.
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