Eleven Scandals by Sarah MacLean

Title: Eleven Scandals
Author: Sarah MacLean
Series: Love by Numbers, #3
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Avon (Imprint of HarperCollins)
Date Published: April 26th, 2011
Edition: Paperback
Rating:

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.

My Review:

The first word that comes to mind when I think about this book is Passion. While the first book in this series, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, was light and humorous, Eleven Scandals is opposite from that, in my opinion. While there were light and funny moments, the romance between Simon and Juliana was quite emotional and…well, passionate.

Both Simon and Juliana are struggling with their own issues. When it comes to Simon, he has spent his entire life steering clear of anything remotely scandalous in order to preserve his reputation within the ton and as the Duke of Leighton. Juliana is practically a scandal on legs, which is precisely why it is hard for Simon to come to terms with loving her. But the scandal within Juliana that Simon tries to stay away from, is the very thing that Juliana is struggling with herself. She doesn’t understand English society and she has already, thanks to her mother, come to London with a predetermined reputation that she has no control over.

Overall, I thought this was a fantastic book. After being a bit disappointed in the second book in this series, it was quite a relief that I loved this one so much. Juliana is strong willed, yet loveable and charming. And while Simon can be quite cold, when his warmth shines through for Juliana alone, it makes it all the more worth it. This is a fantastic read and a wonderful series that I highly recommend to anyone who loves historical romance, or even would like to get started in reading historical romance in general.

More Reviews Goodreads | AmazonPurchase Links Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble