Title: One Good Earl Deserves a Lover: The Second Book of Scoundrels
Genre: Historical Romance
Author: Sarah MacLean
Publisher: Avon, 2013
Source: Purchase
Rating: 5+
Sexy Rating: 5
Description from amazon.com:
Lady Philippa Marbury is . . . odd
The brilliant, bespectacled daughter of a double marquess cares more for books than balls, for science than the season, and for laboratories than love. She’s looking forward to marrying her simple fiancé and living out her days quietly with her dogs and her scientific experiments. But before that, Pippa has two weeks to experience all the rest—fourteen days to research the exciting parts of life. It’s not much time, and to do it right she needs a guide familiar with London’s darker corners.
She needs . . . a Scoundrel
She needs Cross, the clever, controlled partner in London’s most exclusive gaming hell, with a carefully crafted reputation for wickedness. But reputations often hide the darkest secrets, and when the unconventional Pippa boldly propositions him, seeking science without emotion, she threatens all he works to protect. He is tempted to give Pippa precisely what she wants . . . but the scoundrel is more than he seems, and it will take every ounce of his willpower to resist giving the lady more than she ever imagined.
**
Contrary to the description above, Pippa is not so much looking for excitement before her marriage as she is looking for answers to questions and an understanding of what the marital intimacy is all about. She’s not looking to be deflowered. Cross understands what she wants but he feels any association with him will mean ruination for her and he does his best to thwart her attempts to involve him in her scheme.
Once again Sarah MacLean has written an outstanding historical romance. The accomplished story vibrates with a romantic intensity I rarely find in many novels. The characterization of the naïve, yet brilliant heroine is superb and the Earl with the tortured past is better than any I’ve read in a very long while. There are laugh out loud moments as well as moments given over to tears. That the author can bring us to these heights and depths is proof of her mastery. I can highly recommend this book, but be sure to read the first installment in this series A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME. Although this book is self contained there is much back story that is in the first book and fortunately now both are available. Believe me when I tell you that you will read through both books in record time. This book will be on my Tops of 2013 list.
Go here to see my review of A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME:
I’ve never read any of Sarah MacLean’s books but she always garners great reviews like your own. Obviously an author I need to check out!
Oh Yes, indeed you should read MacLean. Please read NINE RULES TO BREAK WHEN ROMANCING A RAKE. Fabulous funny and well written. The other two in that series didn’t live up to the first. Then this series is really spectacular.
Thank you for the recommendation, Dot! I’ve just bought it on Kindle!
Be sure to review it, I’d love to read your comments on it.
Will do! This year I’m doing a challenge for one of my Goodreads Groups which involves reading either a new author, a new series or a new genre each month. So reading ‘Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake’ will fit in nicely.
Well Dot you have given me another author to find, thanks! This book sounds fantastic. I will have to check out the first one as I love reading them in order.
Hi Gayle, yes, do read A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME first. It gives a lot of background for the next book in the series. After you have read that one I betcha you will be seeking out this one.