My Sarah MacLean bender continues. Who knows when I’ll finish? Probably when I run out of published books…
This is the start of the Rules of Scoundrels series. This series is the four owners of a gaming hell taking place 8 years after the previous series. Our heroine, Penelope, was slighted in the third book of the last series so I was quite happy to discover that she gets her own happy ending this time. Penelope, jilted by her fiance the Duke of Leighton 8 years ago for love, has been commanded to marry as her spinisterhood is ruining her sister’s chances at good matches. Bourne, a childhood neighbor, lost everything in a card game years ago, and has been working at re-building his fortune ever since. When Penelope’s father attaches to her dowry some of Bourne’s old estate he comes after her quick.
What I really enjoyed about this one, and all marriages of convenience plots really, is that it forces our hero and heroine to work together right from the start. They are joined together, and have to bumble along that way instead of not working together till the climax. Penelope gets a chance to develop more as a character, and I was glad she got a happy ending as our previous hero did not treat her great. Also Bourne quite appreciated her strength of character, which I always enjoy a hero who understands that their spouse is a partner.
Bourne, though, was a little too broody and overbearing for my tastes, but I know for many that’s their thing. He reminds me of Dain from Lord of Scoundrels (huh?! It really must be a type), and that’s not exactly a compliment, but by the end he comes to appreciate Penelope as he should. He’s just not my favorite type of hero.
All in all it’s a decent enough start to the next series. And in reality 3.5 stars. Onto book two which is many folks favorite. With a nerdy heroine to boot!