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 faraway from him.
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.
Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart is my first Sarah MacLean and I must say I enjoyed it thoroughly, regardless of the unwieldiness of the title. This is the third book in her Love by Numbers series, previously featuring this heroine’s brothers. Ms. MacLean’s take on the romance twist was a thoroughly delightful Italian miss who is always mere minutes away from an epic scandal. Of course, the Duke in question has only one prerequisite for a bride – a scandal free existence. Juliana entire motivation is to prove to him that a passion free life is no way to live.
Juliana is a wonderfully full, well-rounded character. Her inner tensions are completely believable and, even while presenting a very self-possessed image, she is riddled with angst about her true nature. How much like her dreaded scandal-ridden mother is she?
The poor Duke of Leighton and his stuffy heart doesn’t stand a chance against Juliana’s robust and lively nature. When the mighty Duke topples, it is an exquisite downfall. Their love story is one for the top ten lists this year.
One of the most delightful things about Ms. MacLean’s writing style is her spot on dialogue and witty repartee. Juliana has the most charming way of screwing up English idioms that is so typical of speakers of English as a second language.
For those of you new to Ms. MacLean as I was, I heartily recommend this book and I suspect the first two, Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord and Nine Rules to Break with Romancing a Rake are equally good reads.
Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart
Sarah MacLean
Avon
April 2011
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