Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sarah MacLean

Book 3 in the Love by Numbers Series

http://macleanspace.com/romance/elevenscandals/

Miss Juliana Fiori may be one of my all-time favorite heroines. She was fun, flirty, bold, brazen and impulsive. She was absolutely adorable and I could really feel the depth of her passion for love and for life. She could be silly or sweet or fierce or haughty, though her haughtiness was really only skin-deep. She was gorgeous, inside and out, and I loved her. I really could extol her wonderful nature for the rest of this review – but of course I’m sure the other characters and the plot also deserve some notice.

The ‘Duke of Disdain’ also known as the Duke of Leighton, Simon Pearson was truly a delightful, proper ass when first met. He was intriguing, sarcastic, and true to his title – disdainful. His witty banter with our heroine is just the beginning of a very acerbic, sardonic friendship in which the reader feels the love blossoming through the cutting words. It was gorgeously fun to watch him struggle with his desire for passion and his contemptuous upbringing. I loved seeing how Juliana brought out the best in him again and again. It was really sweet and totally romantic. Their bickering was even romantic.

The obstacles thrown in their way didn’t detract from the love story, which was excellent. There were plenty of romantic scenes (like the riding in the park. Loved it) and lots of beautiful introspection. Juliana’s antics meant the story was never lacking for excitement or emotion. And the drama that did occur was taken care of in a very natural fashion, nothing unreasonable or idiotic. Finally, a story with a human plot line! The supporting characters were never obtrusive and didn’t distract us from the blossoming romance and truly played a very minor role in the story. This was all about our Duke and his girl. All in all, it was a magnificent read and a valuable addition to my shelf.

Favorite quotes:

“Leave it to the English to fabricate a lake.” (Juliana)

“And leave it to the Italians to fall into it!” (Simon)

“I have developed a fondness for apple tarts, but I do not want to marry one.” (Juliana) 

“First, it’s excellent bacon, and I’m not thrilled I had to stop eating it.” (Nick) 

 “Sexy”ness rating: Hot!

Overall Rating: A- 

Bottom Line: A wonderful read with a gloriously fun heroine, a witty hero, and plenty of romance! 

Pages: 384

Published: April 6, 2011

Genre: Historical

Other books in the series (click the link to check out the review):
Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake
Ten Ways to be Adored When Landing a Lord