Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sarah MacLean

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart
by Sarah Maclean
Series: Love by Numbers #3
Publisher: Avon
Publication date: May 1, 2011
Genre: Historical Romance
Purchase: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository

*contains sexual content

She lives for passion Bold, impulsive, and a magnet for trouble, Juliana Fiori is no simpering English miss. She refuses to play by society’s rules: she speaks her mind, cares nothing for the approval of the ton, and can throw a punch with remarkable accuracy. Her scandalous nature makes her a favorite subject of London’s most practiced gossips…and precisely the kind of woman the Duke of Leighton wants far far away from him.

He swears by reputation. Scandal is the last thing Simon Pearson has room for in his well-ordered world. The Duke of Disdain is too focused on keeping his title untainted and his secrets unknown. But when he discovers Juliana hiding in his carriage late one evening–risking everything he holds dear–he swears to teach the reckless beauty a lesson in propriety. She has other plans, however; she wants two weeks to prove that even an unflappable duke is not above passion.

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart is the final book in the Love by Numbers trilogy by author Sarah MacLean. After devouring  the first two books (you can click on links to those reviews at the end of this post) I was excited to begin this one. McLean didn’t disappoint me, as she delivered another humorous romance with a headstrong heroine. I quickly consumed this while on vacation and found it to be delightful.

Juliana Fiori is the Italian half-sister of  Gabriel St. John, the Marques of Ralston whom we met in Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake. She has been introduced to London society but they whisper about her. She feels like a fish out of water trying to live by the tons rules. When she is accosted, she hits the man and narrowly escapes by hiding in a carriage. This particular carriage turns out to belong to Simon Pearson, the Duke of Leighton. (otherwise known as the Duke of Disdain.) The tango, these two dance, is delicious and the tale kept me completely immersed. I laughed, cried and cheered these misfits on.

Juliana and Simon could not be more different. He is all prim and proper; strictly adhering to all the rules of society.  She can be bold and outspoken. The two have previously met and were immediately attracted to each other. When Simon discovered her identity, he was outraged.  (for not disclosing this information immediately)  Simon needs a prim and proper wife and discovers he must do something immediately to protect his reputation before a scandalous secret is discovered. He sets his eyes on the tons darling; Lady Penelope Marbury. Juliana has other plans and I truly adored her. She is refreshing and I loved how she could turn Simon upside down and inside out. She is exactly what this stiff, controlled, smexy Duke needs. I loved Simon, despite the fact that several times I wanted to slap him across the face and shout, “What are you doing? You blundering idiot! “ What a thrill watching Juliana peel back Simon’s layers to reveal the steamy, passionate man within.

MacLean’s tales are captivating. I became invested in the characters throughout the series. Reading this novel has been both exciting and depressing. I truly did not want this series to end. While this is a historical fiction and the characters are trapped within the structures of the period; the author breathes such life into them that they became real. I love when an author makes this happen. MacLean weaves drama, suspense and humor into the tale making it a real page turner. I read this in a single day, and I am sure my family was very aware I was spellbound. The romance was wonderful and dripping with sexual tension. The interactions between Juliana and Simon sent my emotions on a rollercoaster ride.  

I highly recommend Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart and the entire Love by Numbers trilogy to fans of historical romance, humor and strong female heroines. Sarah MacLean has made my favorite authors list, and I am excited to be bringing you a review of her latest novel A Rogue by Any Other Name (The Rules of Scoundrels #1) next week.

I gave this novel 4.5 coffee cups out of 5.

Previous books and my reviews:

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake (#1)

Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord (#2)

Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord by Sarah MacLean

Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord
by Sarah MacLean
Series: Love by Numbers #2
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: October 26, 2010
Genre: Adult Historical Romance
Purchase: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository


*contains sexual content

“Lord Nicholas is a paragon of manhood. And his eyes, Dear Reader! So blue!” Pearls & Pelisses, June 1823

Since being named on of London’s “Lords to Land” by a popular ladies’ magazine, Nicholas St. John has been relentlessly pursued by every matrimony-minded female in the ton. So when an opportunity to escape fashionable society presents itself, he eagerly jumps—only to land in the path of the most determined, damnably delicious woman he’s ever met!

The daughter of a titled wastrel, Lady Isabel Townsend has too many secrets and too little money. Though used to taking care of herself quite handily, her father’s recent passing has left Isabel at sea and in need of outside help to protect her young brother’s birthright. The sinfully handsome, eminently eligible Lord Nicholas could be the very salvation she seeks.

But the lady must be wary and not do anything reckless…like falling madly, passionately in love.(synopsis from Goodreads)

Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord is the second book in Sarah MacLean’s Love By Numbers series. I absolutely love this series and the characters MacLean creates. Once again, I found myself swept away and consumed this in a single afternoon. I laughed, giggled, swooned and cried. Fans of historical romances, strong woman and swoon worthy men do not want to miss this series.

The local woman’s rag has set out to tell the young women of the ton how to snag a lord. They first begin by naming the top “Lords of the Land”. When Nicholas St. John finds himself on the list it completely unnerves him. Women are following him everywhere and the invitations are flowing. When he is asked by a friend to find his runaway sister he jumps at the chance to escape.  Meanwhile, twenty-four year old Lady Isabel Townsend is in a pickle. She is the daughter of a titled and deplorable man. The type of man who would gamble away his own daughter. Her father has passed, and left the Minerva estate in financial shambles. Since her mother's passing she has been harboring troubled women in her home. She offers them a safe haven and honest work.  She is passionate about helping them, but money is tight. She resigns herself to selling all of her mother’s marble pieces.  When Isabel and Nicholas’s paths collide, the world-tilts on its axis. The tale that unfolds is sweet, hilarious, delicious and at times bittersweet.  

The character are colorful, strong, flawed, opinionated and oh so lovable! While the sky is falling around Isabel, she keeps her chin up and carries on. She is afraid to trust or lean on anyone; especially a man. She has vowed to never give her heart away. Nicholas is in a word - yummy and like his brother he has been emotionally damaged. His weakness has always been damsels in distress. Isabel can handle herself but he finds himself wanting to help. He senses the burden she carries and longs to scoop her up and hold. He is drawn to her strength and beauty. Their romance was sweet, fragile and left me breathless. I worried, they might not get their happily-ever-after. I loved the ladies residing under Isabel’s roof and it is quite apparent they all adore her. They think Nicholas is exactly what Isabel needs. I loved Nicholas’s friend Turk. He understands Nick and at times was hilarious. Of course we get to see Callie and Gabriel *swoons* again.

MacLean accurately depicts the circumstances women found themselves in during this era. By helping them Isabel puts herself and her young brother at risk. I adored the authors of the rag; Pearls & Pelisses. Each chapter begins with their advice, and I found myself giggling at their outlandish suggestions. I loved Nicholas's story and so wanted him to be happy and loved. I became completely caught up in this tale and while the first book in the Love by Numbers is still my favorite, I was delighted.

I highly recommend the Love by Numbers series and think you will find Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord a welcome addition to your historical romance collection!  Next month I will be bringing you the third novel in this series, Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart.  I have added MacLean to my favorite authors list and look forward to reading and sharing more of her novels.

I gave this novel 4 coffee cups out of 5. 

See my review of book one in the Love by Numbers series here.

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
by Sarah MacLean
Series: Love by Numbers #1
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication date: March 30, 2010
Genre: Adult/ Historical Romance
Purchase: Barnes and Noble/Amazon/Book Depository


* contains sexual content

A lady does not smoke cheroot. She does not ride astride. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen's club.

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried—and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she's vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she's been missing.

But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss—to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston—charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.

If she's not careful, she'll break the most important rule of all—the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love . . .(synopsis from Goodreads)

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake is the first novel in the Love by Numbers series by author Sarah MacLean. I read a review by Chrissie @ Once Upon aSeries and simply knew I had to read this novel. I hadn't visited the ladies and gentlemen of the ton in quite some time and this novel delivered everything I hoped for and more. MacLean gave me feisty characters, hilarious antics and characters I adored.

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell is on the shelf. At 28 years of age, despite a healthy dowry, she finds herself destine to be seated in the spinster section of every ball. Calpurnia is considered plain by the ton. Her buxomest figure is out of fashion and only old men and fortune hunters show her a care. When her younger sister becomes engaged, Calpurnia or Callie as she prefers, begins to wish she could be free of her reputation and have a little adventure. A glass of Sherri and a misguided conversation with her brother, leave this imaginative girl to create a list of nine things she would like to do for adventure. Some include; smoking cheroot, riding astride, gambling, firing a pistol and sharing a passionate kiss.  Determined to begin at once, she sneaks out of her home (at midnight) and finds herself at the door of Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston. He is breathtakingly gorgeous and a notorious rake. An act of kindness on his part when Callie was nineteen, made an impression on her. She has secretly loved him ever since. Thus, she decides he should be the one to kiss her! The tale that unfolds was deliciously romantic and absolutely hilarious as Callie gets herself in one predicament after the other.

I adored the characters MacLean has created for this novel. Callie is such a breath of fresh air. She is a true romantic at heart and a good girl. She wants adventure, but doing these things makes her nervous, creating delightful situations. Her ornery and wise maid made me laugh as did the famous seamstress. Callie’s mother despite having a big heart was dreadful. Her boisterous ways and horrific fashion sense had me bursting at the seams. Gabriel is a complete rake; with a fractured heart. Despite his dandy ways, he has a strong sense of family and looks after his twin brother and sister. With his crystal clear blue eyes and devilish smile he had me swooning. He believes himself incapable of love and watching his journey of discovery had me consuming this novel without pause. The romance was hot and steamy and the two of them danced a delicious tango. Watching Callie unknowingly rattle this man was divine. I found myself rooting for them, and anxious as I waited for my happily –ever after.

McLean’s plot was fantastic. She kept me riveted as she delivered elements of romance, suspense, adventure and comedy. I love when a novel sweeps you away and you drift into the realm the author has created. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake did exactly that. While the tale wasn’t completely original, the characters came alive and I believed in them. I read this almost completely straight through and enjoyed the rollercoaster of emotions McLean wrought from me.

I highly recommend Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake to fans of historical fiction. I plan to continue with this series and will bring you future reviews.  Books two and three are currently available. They are; Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord and Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart.  

I gave this novel 5 coffee cups out of 5.