Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Review -- Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart
Love By Numbers, Book 3
By Sarah MacLean
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: April 26, 2011







Fans of Sarah MacLean's books will rejoice that Juliana Fiori's book is finally here. I was so pleased that Juliana finally got her happily-ever-after, although it was not easily won. But it was most definitely worth the wait.

Juliana Fiori, half sister of Gabriel, Marquess of Ralston and Nicholas St. John, is used to being at the center of scandal. Daughter of a disgraced marchioness and an Italian merchant, Juliana grew up in Italy, abandoned by her mother and raised by her father. She was not schooled in the ways of high society, so when she is sent to England upon the death of her father, it's no wonder she feels out of place in the ton. Not only does she have the scandalous reputation of her mother to overcome, but Juliana is passionate and outspoken, traits that "proper" women of society don't show. Just the type of lady that Simon Pearson makes a point of avoiding.

Simon Pearson, Duke of Leighton, is often referred to as the "Duke of Disdain" for his penchant for looking down on everyone he feels does not measure up to his idea of respectability. To Simon, reputation, honor and respectability are what matters most. Without a doubt he finds Juliana attractive and fascinating, but Simon knows that relationship between them is out of the question. He must find a respectable, biddable, society miss to marry; he refuses to subject his family to scandal. But Juliana is determined to make this cold, proper duke burn with passion. Will Simon choose passion over reputation or will Juliana be fighting a losing battle.

Oh, how I love Sarah MacLean's books and Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart is as entertaining and delicious as the first two books in the Love By Numbers series. Juliana captivated my attention when she first appeared in Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, and her story was a delight. She's full of passion, or as my grandma would have called "piss and vinegar", and you just can't help but love her. I also ached for every slight and slur that Juliana endured from the priggish peers of the ton. She is not scandalous for any reason other than her selfish and outrageous mother. Simon, of course, doesn't see it this way to begin with, and there were a few times I would have liked to have slapped him for being such a pompous ass. But when he finally fell for Juliana, he fell hard. Seeing him brought to his knees by his love for her made it all worthwhile. There is a scene when he realizes the truth behind the scandal in Juliana's life that speaks volumes.


But as he stood in this darkened stable, watching her brush her enormous horse, dressed in a devastatingly beautiful gown and desperate for some way to escape the events of the evening, Simon was overcome with a single realization.

Scandal was not her choice.

It was her burden.

Her bold words and brave face were not borne out of pleasure but out of self-preservation.

She was as much a victim of circumstance as he was.

The awareness hit him like a fist to the gut.


Full of humor, tenderness and heart-pounding, scorching love scenes, Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart is the perfect escape-for-a-day book. It is the third book in the series, and while it can stand alone, I recommend reading the books in order so you can "meet" Juliana from the start: Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, Ten Ways to be Adored When Landing a Lord, and Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart. If you haven't read a Sarah MacLean book yet, get thee to a book store and prepare to fall in love.

~ Gannon

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins/Avon for providing an advance copy of Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart for review.


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36 comments:

  1. I absolutely adored this book - but highly suggest that you don't start reading it at 11pm at night unless you want to be up all night reading it! Sarah is one of my favorite authors, so buying this book as an absolute must - and she did not disappoint, and in my opinion, this was the best out of the three 'scandal' series.

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  2. I've heard so many good things about Sarah's series. It's a good thing that I can read them all back to back. :D

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  3. I love a good scandal. "Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart" - that's a GREAT title & I am looking forward to a wonderful read.

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  4. Great review, Gannon! I *adored* this book! Like Dtchycat, I thought it was the best of the series and I agree with her advice. Definitely, do not start reading it at night or you'll be up all night! :)

    Can't wait to see what Sarah MacLean comes up with next!

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  5. Gannon

    I am soo looking forward to this one I have loved the first 2 in the series. I have to put in an order this week shouldn't be long and I will be reading it YAY.
    Great review

    Have Fun
    Helen

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  6. I absolutely adored this book - but highly suggest that you don't start reading it at 11pm at night unless you want to be up all night reading it!

    Great advice, Dtchycat! *g* It was definitely one of those books that grabs you and won't let go.

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  7. Antonia, you have some wonderful reading ahead of you!

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  8. Marybelle, there's plenty of scandal, and it is soooo good. ;-)

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  9. PJ, I really loved this story. I think it's because Juliana just really captured my attention so completely from the first time she appeared in Nine Rules. She's one of my favorite heroines.

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  10. Helen, I hope your book arrives soon. If you loved the first two books in the series, I know you'll enjoy this one even more.

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  11. Great review, Gannon! Sarah MacLean is now an autobuy author for me. I loved her first two books and picked up ELEVEN on Saturday. I look forward to reading it very soon. (I just have too many other things on my agenda right now, so it may be a few days yet before I begin reading.) I think Sarah's writing is wonderful and I like the humor in her stories.

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  12. I am reading this one right now and LOVING it!!! Sarah = awesome!

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  13. Deb, when you start reading it make sure you have nothing else to do, because you will not want to put it down. :-)

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  14. Sarah = awesome!

    Andrea, I completely agree! *g*

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  15. Is it out now? On the advice of The Dishes I read the first and second and now of course Sarah is an auto buy but I still miss publish dates. Thank goodness she numbers them or I would be buying dupes.

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  16. Yes, Dianna, it's out, so hurry and get a copy. :-)

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  17. Great review, Gannon! I have been looking forward to this book and I cannot wait to read it! :)

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  18. I loved that stable scene. *sighs* It was a really, really great book! I think my favorite of the series. :)

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  19. I've loved all three of the "Numbers" books. Now I can't wait to see what MacLean does next. I'm hoping she writes Benedick's story soon.

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  20. So looking forward to reading this novel. I'll bet there's some humor in it as well!

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  21. Great review Gannon! :) I have been looking forward to Juliana and Simon's story for a long time!!! I have it at the top of my TBR pile and can't wait to dig in. I had a feeling from the beginning that Juliana was definitely going to drive Simon crazy. What I love about series is checking in on the previous characters so hopefully we will get to see what Gabriel and Callie and Nick and Isobel are up to!

    I'm sad this series is over. I would love to see Callie's brother Benedick get a story!But alas, I know the series is over and Sarah has moved on to a new series.

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  22. Janga and Lisa, Sarah said in a video chat last week that she initially hadn't planned to write a story for Benedict but fans began begging for his story almost immediately. She hopes to write his story but has to wait for his heroine to "show up." :)

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  23. Trisha, hopefully you'll have time to read it after school is over.

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  24. Hellion, that stable scene really packed a punch. Like you, I loved this book!

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  25. Janga, I hope that we won't have too long to wait for Benedick's book. I just adore him.

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  26. Connie, there is definitely humor!

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  27. What I love about series is checking in on the previous characters so hopefully we will get to see what Gabriel and Callie and Nick and Isobel are up to!

    Lisa, they are all in the book! I love that same thing about series.

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  28. She hopes to write his story but has to wait for his heroine to "show up." :)

    PJ, here's hoping Sarah "finds" Benedick's heroine soon! *g*

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  29. I just finished the book last night. I agree with everyone that it was a great read. Juliana was an interesting heroine from the first book to this one. I'm glad Simon was cured of his distain for those not in the aristocracy and was able to love Juliana for who she is.

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  30. Juliana was an interesting heroine from the first book to this one.

    Wasn't she, Penfield?!

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  31. Ok So here is yet another author I've never read. I've got 2 books on hold for me at the library. One of those is Nine.. so I am really looking forward to it. Sounds like a fantastic series and I can't wait to start reading!

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  32. Ok So here is yet another author I've never read.

    Oh, Jennifer, are you in for a treat!

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  33. Great review, Gannon! I'm so looking forward to this book. I can't wait to see all the fun Juliana and Simon have!!!

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  34. Love the cover of this book. I will be looking for it for sure.

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  35. The short excerpt speaks volumes. It tells so much about the two characters and opens a door to the story. Thanks for the review.

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  36. Great review. I've missed this author. I too want to know more about Juliana and Simon's antics!

    johnslake@usa.com

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