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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
I'm super bummed that I didn't manage to actually write a review for this book when I read it seven years ago and gave it a glowing five stars. What was I thinking? Why did I love it so much? I wish I could go back in time to ask myself these questions ... although, to be fair, if I had the ability to go back in time I don't think I'd waste my trip on a voyage back to ask my 2012 reader self how I felt about books that year. But, for some reason this book got five stars from me that year, and I am not usually one to give five stars to historical romances, a genre full of similar themes, characters, and stories. I like this genre. It just takes a lot to get five stars from me. So, anyway, I don't know why I gave this five stars back then, but I'll keep the rating up. But this time around I think I'd give it four stars ... it's good, but not outstanding. I think my romance tastes have changed a bit in the last decade, and I have a lot less patience for boorish and hurtful heroes.
Simon. Yeah, he's a bit of a jerk in this story. He was horrible in book two of the Love by Numbers series, so much so that a main plot line of that book involved hiding his sister from him because she had the audacity to get pregnant out of wedlock, potentially ruining the family reputation. I don't have many issues with previously terrible characters finding redemption in future books as we get to see inside their head and see the heart behind the rough exterior, so I was on board to see Simon's redemption in this one. Except ... he's still pretty much a jerk for much of this. I get it. He's a duke. Duke's have a responsibility to their families and tenants to stay above board and be beyond reproach. I get that they have to think of the consequences of their actions more than the average guy on the street. I get that Simon has been taught his whole life to choose duty and honor over any of his own desires. He has learned to look down on the impulsive and overly passionate people who don't have his same ideals. He has some work to do. But I thought he was just irritating and awful in his treatment of Juliana. And his treatment of Penelope, his betrothed. Yeah, he's basically engaged for a good portion of this story. Penelope is the safe choice for a guy interested in duty over feelings. So Simon chooses her. But he is in love with the impetuous and impulsive Juliana. A good man would either break his betrothal and offer for his true love, or he would just suck it up, admit that he is a duty guy who will never follow his heart, and stay committed to the safe bet. But Simon wants it all. He wants to do his duty in public while pursuing his passion in private. And I wasn't having it. It REALLY irritated me. Obviously, I wasn't quite so upset about Simon's behavior when I originally read this story, but I had no patience for him this time around.
As for Juliana, I did appreciate her passion and zeal for life. I loved her attempts to rise above the actions of her awful mother. I loved her love for Simon ... although I didn't understand it at all, and frankly, there were times in this story where her plans to stick with him despite him choosing another over and over again were a bit pathetic. Her most beautiful moment was when she presented Simon with a passionate monologue about his duties to who she thought was his illegitimate daughter. That was a shining moment for her. I wish she had been as bold and articulate in demanding that Simon treat her with love and respect as well.
AS for the audio version ... there were a lot of reviewers who were very unhappy that this book was narrated by Barrie Kreinik instead of Mary Jane Wells, who had narrated the previous book, but I thought that Barrie Kreinik's narration was very good. She did a great job with Juliana's Italian accent, and her male voices were quite good. Sometimes female narrators put a little too much bass in their male voices, making them sound unnatural, but Kreinik's narration of the men in this book was well done, and I could always tell who was who without any of them sounding cartoonish.
I know I spent much of this review bashing Simon, but I did end up really liking him and liking the HEA ending. I'm not so sure that Simon would have been able to do what he did in this book and survive socially in real life, but these books aren't meant to be 100% realistic, are they? I was happy with the way this series ended and glad to see all the couples from the previous books. Worried about poor Penelope and the hand she was dealt in this story? Don't be. She gets her own HEA in A Rogue by Any Other Name ... and it's a lovely HEA indeed.
Simon. Yeah, he's a bit of a jerk in this story. He was horrible in book two of the Love by Numbers series, so much so that a main plot line of that book involved hiding his sister from him because she had the audacity to get pregnant out of wedlock, potentially ruining the family reputation. I don't have many issues with previously terrible characters finding redemption in future books as we get to see inside their head and see the heart behind the rough exterior, so I was on board to see Simon's redemption in this one. Except ... he's still pretty much a jerk for much of this. I get it. He's a duke. Duke's have a responsibility to their families and tenants to stay above board and be beyond reproach. I get that they have to think of the consequences of their actions more than the average guy on the street. I get that Simon has been taught his whole life to choose duty and honor over any of his own desires. He has learned to look down on the impulsive and overly passionate people who don't have his same ideals. He has some work to do. But I thought he was just irritating and awful in his treatment of Juliana. And his treatment of Penelope, his betrothed. Yeah, he's basically engaged for a good portion of this story. Penelope is the safe choice for a guy interested in duty over feelings. So Simon chooses her. But he is in love with the impetuous and impulsive Juliana. A good man would either break his betrothal and offer for his true love, or he would just suck it up, admit that he is a duty guy who will never follow his heart, and stay committed to the safe bet. But Simon wants it all. He wants to do his duty in public while pursuing his passion in private. And I wasn't having it. It REALLY irritated me. Obviously, I wasn't quite so upset about Simon's behavior when I originally read this story, but I had no patience for him this time around.
As for Juliana, I did appreciate her passion and zeal for life. I loved her attempts to rise above the actions of her awful mother. I loved her love for Simon ... although I didn't understand it at all, and frankly, there were times in this story where her plans to stick with him despite him choosing another over and over again were a bit pathetic. Her most beautiful moment was when she presented Simon with a passionate monologue about his duties to who she thought was his illegitimate daughter. That was a shining moment for her. I wish she had been as bold and articulate in demanding that Simon treat her with love and respect as well.
AS for the audio version ... there were a lot of reviewers who were very unhappy that this book was narrated by Barrie Kreinik instead of Mary Jane Wells, who had narrated the previous book, but I thought that Barrie Kreinik's narration was very good. She did a great job with Juliana's Italian accent, and her male voices were quite good. Sometimes female narrators put a little too much bass in their male voices, making them sound unnatural, but Kreinik's narration of the men in this book was well done, and I could always tell who was who without any of them sounding cartoonish.
I know I spent much of this review bashing Simon, but I did end up really liking him and liking the HEA ending. I'm not so sure that Simon would have been able to do what he did in this book and survive socially in real life, but these books aren't meant to be 100% realistic, are they? I was happy with the way this series ended and glad to see all the couples from the previous books. Worried about poor Penelope and the hand she was dealt in this story? Don't be. She gets her own HEA in A Rogue by Any Other Name ... and it's a lovely HEA indeed.
4.5/5 - SO good!! Everything about this story is beyond enjoyable, even when Simon was being a horrible ass, I still loved the guy. I haven't read books 1 & 2 but definitely plan to now. Sarah MacLean has become a new favorite author!
Another nice story in MacLean's historical romance series. A fiery, passionate commoner from Italy and an uptight English duke. Quick read. Although I felt the duke was not a well-drawn character, I really liked the ending.
Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads.
Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart was SUCH a great book! I initially had this book as a four star read, but after not being to get it out of my brain since I finished, I decided to bump it to five stars. There were times when it absolutely ripped my heart from my chest, but it put me back together in the end. But you should definitely prepare for an emotional roller coaster with this one!
The Duke of Leighton and Juliana gave me all the forbidden love and sexual tension I could handle with this story. Juliana was awesome. She was sassy and didn't really care what others though of her, which was a huge no-no in those days, obviously. Simon was her exact opposite. He was bound by duty and willing to sacrifice his own happiness to marry a "suitable" woman to help smooth over the rough parts of his family's reputation. It was their differences that made their chemistry so fiery and kept me hooked from the very start.
In a departure from most historical romance I've read, Juliana is the one who is pursuing Simon and he's the one trying to stay away. I loved the shift in dynamic this brought to the story. It so worked. This book was full of passion and forbidden love/lust, feels and emotions (for me and the characters) and swoon-worthy romance. I wasn't sure my heart could take all of it, because there were times that were difficult to read, but it left me with a big smile on my face when it was all said and done.
As sad as I am to say goodbye to this series, I'm thrilled it kinda rolls over into The Rules of Scoundrels. I can't wait to devour all of those – AND FINALLY get Georgiana's story. It's gonna be a good one!
Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart was SUCH a great book! I initially had this book as a four star read, but after not being to get it out of my brain since I finished, I decided to bump it to five stars. There were times when it absolutely ripped my heart from my chest, but it put me back together in the end. But you should definitely prepare for an emotional roller coaster with this one!
The Duke of Leighton and Juliana gave me all the forbidden love and sexual tension I could handle with this story. Juliana was awesome. She was sassy and didn't really care what others though of her, which was a huge no-no in those days, obviously. Simon was her exact opposite. He was bound by duty and willing to sacrifice his own happiness to marry a "suitable" woman to help smooth over the rough parts of his family's reputation. It was their differences that made their chemistry so fiery and kept me hooked from the very start.
In a departure from most historical romance I've read, Juliana is the one who is pursuing Simon and he's the one trying to stay away. I loved the shift in dynamic this brought to the story. It so worked. This book was full of passion and forbidden love/lust, feels and emotions (for me and the characters) and swoon-worthy romance. I wasn't sure my heart could take all of it, because there were times that were difficult to read, but it left me with a big smile on my face when it was all said and done.
As sad as I am to say goodbye to this series, I'm thrilled it kinda rolls over into The Rules of Scoundrels. I can't wait to devour all of those – AND FINALLY get Georgiana's story. It's gonna be a good one!
I liked that we saw the characters from the first 2 books of the series, and watching leighton kind of come undone by Juliana was something to watch. Culminating of course in the grand romantic gesture at the northumberland ball! It was that scene that stole my heart and pushed my rating to 5 stars. True romantic drivel and I loved it!
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed Julianna as a character. Simon is a stuffed shirt and thinks his position, reputation and title are all important. Julianna, unfortunately has fallen for him and her questionable family makes Simon snub her. To her life cannot exist without passion, and she challenges him to make him see his mistake.
funny
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated