Series: The Rules of Scoundrels, #1
Traits & Tropes: childhood friends; antihero; revenge; titled hero; spinster; compromised; abduction; forced marriage; self-made hero; redemption
Publication Date: 02.28.12
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; London, 1831
Heat Level: 3
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Narration Rating: 5/5
Michael, the Marquess of Bourne, lost everything on the turn of one card ten years ago: his place in society, his wealth, his unentailed estates, all but his title. Now he’s become a partner in London’s most successful gambling den and is wealthier than he ever was. He’s cold and ruthlessly devoted to gaining revenge on the man who ruined him and rebuilding his inheritance. He’ll do anything to achieve his goals, including marrying the quintessential proper society lady and his childhood friend, Lady Penelope Marbury.
Penelope has found her prospects tarnished by a broken engagement and several years of courtships that came to nothing. She longs for more than a staid society match. Luckily for her, her new husband can show her many unexplored pleasures, though possibly not the depth of emotion she longs for.
Michael is perfectly at home in London’s seedy underbelly, but he’s determined for Penelope to remain untainted by that darkness. She’s about to show him she’s not nearly as biddable as he’d like to think and she’s willing to risk it all to gain the more she longs for.
I’m not usually too crazy about revenge plots so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this book, but I’ve surprised myself with how much I enjoyed it. Penelope and Michael really brought out the best in one another as Penelope gained confidence out from under her parents’ shadow and Michael learned to let go of his revenge and find something else to live for. Michael fought her every step of the way, unsure how to carry on without the force that had been driving him for the past nine years, as well as believing himself unworthy of Penelope. He was frustrating in his attempts to be high-handed with her and protect her from the seedier world he operated in, but she was having none of it and I loved seeing her stand up for herself and refused to be kept in the box that had been assigned to her. This was a bit angsty, but in a way I can appreciate, without it giving me anxiety. I loved the spinster heroine taking charge of her life and bringing her childhood friend back to the man he was always meant to be, just improved by his struggles without being so obsessed with his vengeance. Michael’s single-minded focus on completely his revenge and obtaining Falconwell made him difficult to like, but it was also impossible not to see the potential in him, as Penelope did. His hot and cold treatment of Penelope was incredibly annoying, but I stayed engaged in the story, waiting for the satisfaction of seeing him brought to his knees by his inevitable feelings for Penelope and I was not disappointed by that. These two actually wound up being a perfect match and I was very satisfied by them together. This is probably my favorite MacLean that I’ve read so far, and I plan to continue this series.
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/1252587548
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3936894061
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