in
Showing posts with label Sarah MacLean. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sarah MacLean. Show all posts

Monday, July 3, 2017

Feature and Giveaway The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean



The one woman he will never forget…

Malcolm Bevingstoke, Duke of Haven, has lived the last three years in self-imposed solitude, paying the price for a mistake he can never reverse and a love he lost forever. The dukedom does not wait, however, and Haven requires an heir, which means he must find himself a wife by summer’s end. There is only one problem—he already has one.

The one man she will never forgive…

After years in exile, Seraphina, Duchess of Haven, returns to London with a single goal—to reclaim the life she left and find happiness, unencumbered by the man who broke her heart. Haven offers her a deal; Sera can have her freedom, just as soon as she finds her replacement…which requires her to spend the summer in close quarters with the husband she does not want, but somehow cannot resist.

A love that neither can deny…

The duke has a single summer to woo his wife and convince her that, despite their broken past, he can give her forever, making every day...

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes |

Friday, June 30, 2017

ARC Review: The Day of the Duchess by Sarah MacLean


Ever since I started this series “Scandal & Scoundrel” I have been waiting for Seraphina and Malcolm Bevingstoke, Duke of Haven’s story. When I read “The Rogue Not Taken (Scandal & Scoundrel, #1) I thought “there is no way that Sera and Mal will end up together.” There is just no way. Needless to say I was wrong. However! MacLean really had a huge obstacle to accomplish. Throughout the series, the infamous Sera is known for her scandal and most importantly because she is missing. No one knows where the Duke of Haven’s Duchess can be found. When Sera re-emerges she has changed! Three years have gone by since Sophie Talbot dumped the cheating Duke in the pond and Sera is ready to take charge of her life. Everything is against her, but she is determined.

When we first hear of Sera and Mal’s story, it is filled with hurt, anger and pain. Much of that sentiment carries through the story. Sera and Mal have a lot of baggage. From the very beginning, their love is tainted with rumors, distrust and betrayal. It seems that one wound just opens and festers another. Sera is done with that. She wants a divorce and wants to be the boss of her own life. Women during that time could not petition for a divorce even if they were subject to cruelty at the hands of their husbands. Kudos to MacLean for bringing up the history of women during this time period and really how little they had in terms of rights! Well, Sera is done with her marriage, cheating husband and is ready to open her own tavern where she can fulfill her dream of singing to her hearts content. Sera has no way of knowing that throughout the last three years Mal has traveled all over the world trying to find his wife. He never gave up looking for her and he is determined to make their marriage work. Sera wants nothing to do with Mal and the past hurts and sorrows haunt their every conversation. Mal tries one last time to keep his wife. He makes a wager with her. If she can find him a replacement Duchess he will agree to the divorce. What Mal doesn’t anticipate is that Sera’s infamous sisters will come along and that Sera has a friend, a male one at that. Mal is more determined than ever.

First, I have to say how much I enjoyed Sera and my heart broke for her. She was young and naïve, inexperience in many ways and many of her choices were not the best. Malcolm pretty much followed the same path. It would seem that both were destined for disaster-which they both experienced. Sera fought so hard to win her independence and it was admirable considering nothing was really in her favor. I was lukewarm about Mal until the end when he finally comes to realize that Sera is not his to keep… and I have to confess I put the story down and wiped away my tears. Even though they do finally get their much deserved happily-ever-after it was far from easy. There are many funny and sweet moments. There is one scene that is both sweet and real for me-when the sisters are crammed in the carriage. I just thought that MacLean really captured their bond as sisters and in many ways the figurative distance that covered them emotionally. Physically the sisters are together, but Sera has not emotionally shared with her sisters the baggage she has been carrying. This story did not disappoint and I need to know more about Secily and her American. I am crossing my fingers and hoping that this is not the last time we hear about the “Dangerous Daughters.”

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes |


Friday, September 2, 2016

ARC Review: A Scot in the Dark by Sarah MacLean


I love Sarah MacLean! What an amazing story, writer and experience. I’m not new to MacLean’s storytelling but every time I read one of her stories, whether I love or like it, it always sticks with me. I loved MacLean’s message in “A Scot in the Dark” and felt changed and inspired by her story. Although this is part of the “Scandal and Scoundrel” series, Miss Lillian Hargrov-the central character, is not one of the scandalous sisters that we meet in the first book in the series “The Rogue Not Taken.” The hero, Alec, The Duke of Warnick is a friend that appears in the first book and his presence plays an important but in the first book.

When the story begins, Lily is enticed into posing nude for a portrait done by an artist she believes to be in love with and whom she believes loves her. Lily assumes that marriage is near and that she has found the man of her dreams. Lily is a beautiful woman who often attracts lots of attention because of her beauty. When Lily soon learns that she is tricked the only way she thinks to survive is to flee once her portrait is exposed to all of London-and eventually the world.
Alec has the bad fortune to inherit a dukedom that kills off over 10 dukes which leaves him to be the next Duke in line. But impending death is not what Alec fears or loathes. Alec hates all things English and especially society. To add to his already disadvantages he realizes that Lily is a ward that is attached to this title. Neither Alec nor Lily are too happy with their current situation but Alec soon realizes that his and her problems can easily be solved-marry Lily off. Lily has plans of her own. She is due an inheritance at her next birthday and she wants to take her money and flee England. It isn’t long before Alec realizes that his plan will never work and that he can’t support Lily in her own plans to flee. Alec knows that Lily deserves better.

One of the many reasons I always jump for MacLean’s stories is that her characters are always so memorable. I just loved Lily and my heart broke for her. Lily is not a member of the ton. She is just the ward of a Duke. She has never fit in and has always felt lonely. Alec could not have been a better match for her. He too has his own wounds that he carries around with him but unlike Lily, he had a chance to run and knows that running is never the answer.

I loved both Lily and Alec as individual characters and as a couple. My heart broke for them and I was emotionally invested in their happiness. I loved the surprising twists that MacLean inserted towards the end. I also loved that the scandalous sisters do make an appearance and befriend Lily. My only disappointment is waiting for the next book in the series! This was a strong five stars for me! I just loved everything about it and can’t wait to see what MacLean has in store for us next!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | iTunes |


Monday, January 11, 2016

ARC Review: The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean


Anything Sarah MacLean writes I want to read. When I saw that she had a new book in her new series “The Rogue Not Taken” I jumped up in excitement. McLean is such a great writer! I loved her previous series “The Rules of Scoundrels and “Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover” was one of my favorite reads in this past year.

In true MacLean fashion she writes about a peculiar heroine who wants to play by her own rules and not those of society. Lady Sophie Talbot is not of blue-blood. Her father won a title in a game of cards and with his hard work in the coal mines, he amassed wealth. The aristocracy looks down on her and her family because of these two traits but also because her and her sisters have even received a quirky name. Sophie is the youngest of the sisters and she feels the most constraint by society’s rules. She is also very emotional and sensitive about the gossip that surrounds her family. When she catches her older sister’s husband in romantic rendezvous with another woman, Sophie doesn’t hesitate to take matters into her own hands. Unfortunately, this has very big ramifications and Sophie thinks that her family will fare better in London without her. She runs into The Marquess of Eversley’s, or King as he is referred, carriage. King is not the least big happy to see that Sophie is dressed up as a boy and has used his carriage to escape from London.

Needless to say their adventure is never boring and Sophie being the courageous and dangerous heroine that she is, ends up shot. King realizes that Sophie is unlike anyone that he has ever met even though they both swear to part ways, they invariably end up needing each other’s help. King is known for his habit of ruining woman for marriage and based on this reputation Sophie forms an opinion of him.

MacLean always has adventured filled story and this one is no exception. There were also some very funny moments and some tender moments as well. Although Sophie considers herself the “unfun” sister, she is definitely fun. King has some soul searching to do as well since his own history often affects his present. There were two factors that stopped this from giving it a five. One is the sisters. Although Sophie identifies herself in relation to her sisters we don’t really see too much interaction with her and her sisters and I wish that there would have been more sisterly interactions at the beginning to better understand the Talbot sisters. Second, I thought her and King didn’t mesh well until more than half the book when they really started to understand each other and chip away at their misconceptions about each other. MacLean has some tricks and secrets up her sleeve and she shares some fun surprises with the readers. I personally cannot wait to see what she has in store for the other sisters and who she has in mind with the very sexy scot. I think this was another great MacLean romantic adventure.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |


Feature and Giveaway: The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean



Lady Sophie’s Society Splash

When Sophie, the least interesting of the Talbot sisters, lands her philandering brother-in-law backside-first in a goldfish pond in front of all society, she becomes the target of very public aristocratic scorn. Her only choice is to flee London, vowing to start a new life far from the aristocracy. Unfortunately, the carriage in which she stows away isn’t saving her from ruin . . . it’s filled with it.

Rogue’s Reign of Ravishment!

Kingscote, “King,” the Marquess of Eversley, has never met a woman he couldn’t charm, resulting in a reputation far worse than the truth, a general sense that he’s more pretty face than proper gentleman, and an irate summons home to the Scottish border. When King discovers stowaway Sophie, however, the journey becomes anything but boring.

War? Or More?

He thinks she’s trying to trick him into marriage. She wouldn’t have him if he were the last man on earth. But carriages bring close quarters, dark secrets, and unbearable temptation, making opposites altogether too attractive . . .

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N |

Intro from Sarah MacLean

Being shot on the Great North Road isn't exactly a thing people expect to happen, and Lady Sophie Talbot finds herself in the rooms above The Warbling Wren pub, under the welcome care of a rather mad doctor and the watchful eye of the rather infuriating (and infuriatingly handsome) Kingscote, Marquess of Eversley. There are worse things, she supposes. Or are there? Not for King.)

--

“If you want a bath, you’ll have to accept my help,” he said.

She pursed her lips at that, her gaze settling longingly on the steaming bath. “You mustn’t look.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” It might have been the most obvious lie he’d ever told.

Somehow, she believed it, nodding and throwing back the coverlet to step out of the bed. She came to her feet, the top of her head at his chin, and he resisted the urge to help her across the room. “How do you feel?” he asked, hearing the gravel in his words. He cleared his throat.

“As though I’ve been shot, I’d imagine.”

He raised a brow. “Clever. There's food when you’ve bathed." The words summoned a low growl from her, and her hands flew to her stomach. Her cheeks turned red, and he smiled. “I take it you are hungry.”

“It seems so,” she said.

“Food after the bath. And then sleep.”

She met his gaze. “You’re very domineering.”

“It’s a particular talent.”

“What with you being called King.”

“Name is destiny.”

She moved past him to the high copper bathtub. He resumed his place against the wall, arms crossed, watching her carefully as she reached down, her long fingers trailing in the hot water as she sighed her anticipation. The sound was like gunfire in the room—pure, unadulterated pleasure. It was delicious.

King stiffened. He was not interested in the lady’s pleasure.

If only someone would tell his body that.

Sarah MacLean grew up in Rhode Island, obsessed with historical romance and bemoaning the fact that she was born far too late for her own season. Her love of all things historical helped to earn her degrees from Smith College and Harvard University before she finally set pen to paper and wrote her first book.

Sarah now lives in New York City with her husband, their dog, and a ridiculously large collection of romance novels. She loves to hear from readers.

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

Check out what's up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:
  • 1 Print set of the Rule of Scoundrels Series

To Enter: 
  • US ONLY.
  • Please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

Good Luck! 

Special thanks to Sarah MacLean & Tasty Book Tours for sponsoring this tour-wide giveaway.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Guest Post with Author Sarah MacLean and Giveaway


Sarah MacLean grew up in Rhode Island, obsessed with historical romance and bemoaning the fact that she was born far too late for her own season. Her love of all things historical helped to earn her degrees from Smith College and Harvard University before she finally set pen to paper and wrote her first book.

Sarah now lives in New York City with her husband, their dog, and a ridiculously large collection of romance novels. She loves to hear from readers.

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

Monday, November 24, 2014

ARC Review: Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean



Sarah MacLean is one fantastic, uber-great writer/storyteller! I absolutely loved “The Rules of Scoundrels” series. For anyone that has never read the series, there are four partners brought together by Chase. Chase is the owner/mastermind behind “The Fallen Angel.” The Fallen Angel is a den of sin! It’s a gaming hall where only a few of society’s favorites are invited. In each of the previous books each owner of “The Fallen Angel” have their love story. I loved each book except for one that I was not crazy about. My all-time favorite is “No Good Duke Goes Unpunished.” MacLean was pure genius with that story, in my opinion.

One of owners of “The Fallen Angel” is Duncan West. His story is a little different than the Marquess of Bourne (A Rogue by Any other Name), Lord Castleton (One Good Earl Deserves a Lover) and Temple (No Good Duke Goes Unpunished ). Duncan is not “saved” by Chase like the before mentioned. Duncan is the owner of different, popular and very powerful publications in London. Through different circumstances he became a very integral part of “The Fallen Angel” and Chase deems him worthy of becoming part of “The Fallen Angel.”

Duncan was such a great character throughout the series. He was really a great hero, yet plagued by his own demons. He was strong, handsome, and at times cut-throat. When Duncan sees Lady Georgiana at a ball he is immediately drawn to her. Lady Georgiana is an outcast in society. She had a baby at the age of seventeen, unmarried. Now that her daughter is older she is trying to re-establish herself in society. I hate that I can’t talk about different elements of the story because it would ruin the series for anyone that has not read it. However, I will say this. Lady Georgiana is a fantabulous heroine. I loved her beyond word. She is one butt-kicking-take-no-prisoners- heroine. On my list as absolute favorites. Same goes for Duncan. He was so complex and multilayered. It makes perfect sense that a man who makes a living exposing others secret would have many of his own.

Duncan and Georgiana, as a couple, were dynamic. They were so perfectly matched! They perfectly complemented each other and have tremendous chemistry. As Duncan and Georgiana begin to fall in love they encounter many different obstacles. One, Duncan is being blackmailed and must expose Chase. Two, Lady Georgiana is caught up in the middle and must decide where her life will go from here. Three, the future of “The Fallen Angel” is threatened. The characters from the previous book were so great. The story was perfectly written to include them.

Finally, I was so worried about how the story would play out. Would I be disappointed in the last book? Answer: heck no! What would MacLean do with Chase? The Fallen Angel? Answer: Fantastic ending!(I’m trying very hard not to give anything away.) MacLean has written one of the best plots I have ever read. I actually wanted to go back and re-read the previous books to see if I could it all together. MacLean is pure genius!

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Kobo | iTunes |





Feature and Giveaway: Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean


By day, she is Lady Georgiana, sister to a duke, ruined before her first season in the worst kind of scandal. But the truth is far more shocking-in London’s darkest corners, she is Chase, the mysterious, unknown founder of the city’s most legendary gaming hell. For years, her double identity has gone undiscovered...until now.

Brilliant, driven, handsome-as-sin Duncan West is intrigued by the beautiful, ruined woman who is somehow connected to a world of darkness and sin. He knows she is more than she seems and he vows to uncover all of Georgiana’s secrets, laying bare her past, threatening her present, and risking all she holds dear...including her heart.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Kobo | iTunes |

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Review: A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean


A Rogue by Any Other Name is the first book in the Rules of Scoundrels Series by Sarah MacLean and this book starts the series with a bang!

The story spotlights Lady Penelope Marbury who was once engaged to the Duke of Leighton in Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart (Love by Numbers #3) and Michael Lawler, the Marquis of Bourne who has fallen from society’s grace and is now a partner in London’s most exclusive gambling hell, The Angel. Years after being jilted by the Duke of Leighton, Penelope is now reaching her 28th year and is officially on the shelf. Her father, desperate to have her wed has attached Falconwell (Bourne’s estate that he lost in a card game) to her dowry. Bourne, desperate to have his inheritance back manages to abduct Penelope and force her into a marriage of convenience. Penelope agrees to the marriage if Bourne would assist her in finding true love for her two younger sisters. What starts as revenge soon blossoms into love and redemption.

I love both Penelope and Bourne and I think that they complement each other. Their passion and struggle for true love are shown through every interaction. I most especially love the notes between Penelope and Bourne that start every chapter. It gave me a glimpse of how close they were during their childhood, which was a key part of the story. “She loved you best,” my favorite quote from the book, really established their closeness and cemented their love for each other.

The villain, Bourne’s guardian, is not really prominent in the story but he has deep hatred for the man. The card game in the end, with Penelope winning Bourne’s all other property, was a twist that was fresh and surprising.

I liked how all the other characters where introduced to us and the cliffhanger at the end of the story. That cliffhanger also seamlessly ties to One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (The Rule of Scoundrels #2) featuring Lady Philippa Marbury and Cross (another partner in the gambling hell). Take note of all the interactions between all the characters because they offer hints to all the other books in the series, most especially the last book Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover which reveals a very surprising and shocking twist.

I did not like that this story slows a little bit towards the middle however it gains momentum towards the end. I also did not like Penelope’s sister, Olivia, who I think was very annoying and spoiled. Despite her role being minor, the mere mention of her made my hair stand on end.

Although this is a stand-alone book, I recommend reading Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart to get the back story of Lady Penelope’s previous engagement.

I give this book 5 stars with Sarah MacLean becoming another one-click author for me.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | B&N | The Book Depository |



Monday, December 2, 2013

ARC Review: No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah Maclean


Sarah Maclean once again demonstrates her writing excellence with No Duke Goes Unpunished, the third installment in the Rules of Scoundrels series. It is a beautifully written story that is a little hard to read at times because the characters are so filled with anger and regret. Strong writing evokes strong reactions and this is very strong writing. It engaged my emotions causing me to both chuckle and cry. Reading the book was an intensely emotional experience as we follow two people that were victims of their own choices, choices with unintended consequences.

William Harrow, Duke of Lamont, known as Temple, is believed to have murdered his father’s young bride. He has become a pariah, thus causing him to embrace life as an unbeaten boxer at the Fallen Angel, a gambling club he owns with his friends. Twelve years after the “murder” the supposed victim, Mara Lowe, decides to offer her absolution for the murder in exchange for the money her brother gambled away at the Fallen Angel. Mara has been in hiding, running an orphanage for boys under an assumed name. Temple has every reason to hate Mara for setting up the “murder.” Mara never intended for things to turn out the way they did. These two have dozens of reasons to stay apart, yet they find themselves caught up in intrigue and desire. The road to their Happily Ever After is a very long, very rocky one.

Conflict is essential in telling a story. Most books employ a fair amount of conflict between the hero and heroine in order to develop their character and to move the story forward. No Duke Goes Unpunished begins with the hero and heroine so deeply enmeshed in a seriously hurtful conflict that it was difficult to see how they would ever get beyond it. In many ways this was a sad book for me because both of them had lost so much and there was no way to replace what they had lost. It is a great tribute to Maclean’s writing skills that I completely believed the transition of the relationship from hatred/distrust to love. A full array of emotions were engaged throughout the book – sorrow, shame, determination, pragmatism, desire, humor and more. By the end we are left sobbing with a mix of regret and joy. I just loved the matching of Temple and Mara. It is one of the most unlikely pairings I have seen because of their past, yet they are also a perfect match for each other. Revisiting the other owners of the Fallen Angel club greatly enhances the story.

It is clear that I loved many things about No Duke Goes Unpunished. So why didn’t I give it 5 stars? The main reason is that I found the basic premise of the story to be not completely believable. It seemed unlikely that there would be a “Killer Duke” that was a renowned boxer. Why were they so sure there was a murder without a body? Wouldn’t he have been prosecuted? Maybe not, because he was a member of the aristocracy, but surely there would have been some specific consequences. It was difficult for me to believe that Mara would do nothing for twelve years, even when she knew what had happened. Her behavior was a little hard to swallow as well. I understand that she had to be tough, but she was harsh and unyielding most of the time. I also became a little tired of the lengthy flip-flops that Mara made about telling the whole story or accepting his love. No Duke Goes Unpunished is a very good book, very nearly 5 stars, but it just slightly missed the mark. I gladly join the many people who will be anticipating the last and final Scoundrels book about Chase to be released next year. We look forward to a wonderful end to this top-notch series.

**ARC provided by Author**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |



Friday, November 29, 2013

Feature and Giveaway: No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean


A rogue ruined...

He is the Killer Duke, accused of murdering Mara Lowe on the eve of her wedding. With no memory of that fateful night, Temple has reigned over the darkest of London’s corners for twelve years, wealthy and powerful, but beyond redemption. Until one night, Mara resurfaces, offering the one thing he’s dreamed of...absolution.

A lady returned...

Mara planned never to return to the world from which she’d run, but when her brother falls deep into debt at Temple’s exclusive casino, she has no choice but to offer Temple a trade that ends in her returning to society and proving to the world what only she knows...that he is no killer.

A scandal revealed...

It’s a fine trade, until Temple realizes that the lady-and her past-are more than they appear. It will take every bit of his strength to resist the pull of this mysterious, maddening woman who seems willing to risk everything for honor . . . and to keep from putting himself on the line for love

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |