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A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME
Genre: Regency Period, Historical Romance, England
MacLean gets better with each new book and this first in her Rules of Scoundrels series is no exception. She’s never afraid to try something different; this time she incorporates letters into her romantic story. It’s another unforgettable love story with passion and power — power that will shake you to the core. As a young man Michael Lawler, Marquess of Bourne, lost everything but his title with the turn of a card. Penniless, he was shunned by the ton and found himself in London’s underworld moving from pit boss to part owner of The Fallen Angels gambling hell. He lives to reclaim his ancestral home. Her reputation in tatters after breaking her engagement, Penelope Marbury, daughter of the Marquess of Needham and Dolby, seeks out her childhood friend and pen pal, Bourne, only to discover he has become a cold, relentless man who thrusts her away. Penelope represents marriage and the means for Bourne to reclaim everything he lost. Neither realizes what a huge gamble they are taking because falling in love is the greatest risk of all and the supreme redemption. (AVON, Mar., 380 pp., $7.99) Reviewed By: Kathe Robin Publisher: AVON INSPIRE Published: March 2012 |
RT Rating
A Rogue by Any other Name
Submitted by rockvillelibrary on February 18, 2012 - 9:16pm.
Penelope Marbury is not in a happy place. She has been proposed to by her childhood friend, Tommy Alles and knows it would be a disaster if she said yes. On the other hand she has been publicly jilted, and on the marriage mart for several years with no possibilities and her younger sisters will pay the price if she doesn’t marry. At the same time, her other childhood friend, Michael, Marquess of Bourne, learns that Penelope’s father has made his ancestral lands part of Penelope’s dowry. Michael had wagered his inheritance away when he was a foolish 21 year old playing too deep against a man he disliked. His life’s goal since then has been to regain his lost property and get his revenge.
All of these events culminate in Michael expanding his plan for revenge to include seducing or coercing Penelope into marriage. Penelope agrees to marry him after he compromises her but forces him to agree to help her sisters. Thus the marriage begins…..
I really enjoyed this book. I had read the previous series ender when Penelope was jilted by the Duke of Leighton. In that book, I was rooting for Leighton and his love to be together, so it was interesting to revisit that situation from the point of view of the one who was left behind and who society then perceived as damaged goods. Penelope has been dealt a bad hand but she kept her head up and never gave up feeling she deserved a marriage based on love not just duty. Michael on the other hand has to learn that he is worthy of love and that he can forgive himself for his past mistake.
There is great chemistry between these two characters and a lot of history, played out in letters at the start of each chapter. The secondary characters are integral to the plot and at least one is the set up for the next book in the series. This book is a great beginning to a new series that I can’t wait to read.
Sharon ( rockvillelibrary)