A Rogue by Any Other Name: The First Rule of Scoundrels

So I have a new favorite author and its all thanks to a friend. I'm in charge of a big writing competition and one of the major deadlines were coming up, so I told her to name something fun for me to read. That I needed nothing that upped my stress level, just something to help me decompress at the end of the day. She recommended One Good Earl Deserves Another by Sarah MacLean which is one of her all time favorites books. However, I noticed that there was a book before it in the Rules of Scoundrels series and I have to read books in order so I picked up A Rogue by Any Other Name first. Let me just say... I lost a LOT of sleep because I couldn't put this book down. You have our heroine, Penelope, who is twenty-eight years old and unmarried because of a broken engagement from eight years ago which scandalized her. She's also turned down other engagements because the man who broke it off for her did so because he wished to marry the woman he loved. Penelope wants more out of life. More than being the proper lady who becomes the proper wife, more than a life in a loveless marriage, more adventure. When her father wins a particularly prime piece of real estate and attaches to Penelope's dowry, determined to get her married off, it looks like she'll get the adventure she's wanting. Our hero, Michael, Marquess of Bourne, lost his fortune at twenty-one in a game of chance and vowed revenge ever since. When his once childhood friend's father wins his land from the bastard who stole it from him and attaches it to her name, Michael kidnaps her with plans to ruin her and force her into marriage. He would have his inheritance back at any cost. It's been nine years and since then he's amassed his own fortune and runs one of the most legendary gaming hells in London. All with his eye on revenge. Penelope hasn't seen Michael in over nine years, since his ruination, but she's never stopped thinking about him. Always writing him letters, always putting flowers on his parents grave. When he shows up at her home one dark, cold night, she's happy to see him until she realizes just how much he's let his bitterness take over his life. This is not the boy she once knew. Knowing he is going to ruin her anyway, she strikes a deal. Michael insures that their scandalous marriage does not hamper her two younger sisters from making good matches on the marriage mart and she'd agree to marry him. When Michael agrees, he does not know what he's signing up for: A return to society, pretending to have made a love match, and a very tempting bride who wants adventures in his dark underworld. But they begin to wonder what part of the marriage is farce and what is true. This was a fabulous book that was almost painful to put down. When I did have to lay it aside and get work done, my mind was constantly one it. Well written, great tension, and just a fun read all around. Wonderful characters. I can't recommend this book enough. As I read each little snippet of letter at the beginning of each chapter, I would smile. They were one of my favorite parts. And I always got a sense that, even if Penelope didn't realize it, the reason she kept turning down for proposals was she was waiting for Michael.

A Rogue By Any Other Name tells the tale of two childhood friends reunited after more than a decade of trials and tribulations, ultimately finding that true friendship never dies. I give it four star and recommend to all. In the novel, Michael Lawler and Penelope Marbury are childhood friends who correspond after Michael leaves for Eton. Many letters are provided as introductions to each chapter, giving the reader a deeper understanding of what the characters were going through during that time. Michael’s parents die and he becomes the Marquess of Bourne, and later he loses the entirety of the marquessate’s unentailed holdings to a man named Langford in one hand of blackjack (vingt-et-un), leaving him with a cold and empty manor house. He vows to get his properties back and his revenge on Langford. Penelope has suffered her share of heartache, as well, being jilted by her fiancée, the Duke of Leighton, then later having no success in finding a suitable husband amidst the disparaging gossip of the ton. At twenty-eight, she feels firmly established as a spinster and gives up hope of finding a husband until her father forces her to do so in order to salvage her younger sisters’ chances at matrimony. Her father wins the land around Michael’s manor house from Langford in a card game and attaches it Penelope’s dowry, assuring her of many proposals to come. Michael and Penelope meet, in a way by chance, and he abducts her holds her hostage in his manor house so that she will be forced to marry him. The deed is done, and the two have to figure out how to be married before either or both of them is destroyed or runs mad. I must say that I liked this book the first time I read it, but a staggering revelation at the end of No Good Duke Goes Unpunished (The Third Rule of Scoundrels) made me decide to re-read all the books a second time. Now I will say that I really liked this book. I think with this series the old adage about the whole being greater than the sum of its parts is true. My enjoyment of the first book in the series was increased exponentially when considered in light of books two and three. Now I am eagerly awaiting book four! The pace of the novel is great; there is always something happening to move the plot forward, and there are no superfluous scenes. I really liked how the reader is given the backstory of Michael and Penelope’s friendship through their letters – much more interesting than heavy narration and occasionally even adds some comedic relief to an otherwise heart-breaking relationship history. To wit, when the declarations of love are spoken, the reader can more easily accept the feelings as having depth and duration. The development of the romantic relationship is believable. It is also on the graphic side, so appropriate for adults only. The plotline is simple, but not mind-numbingly so, and the other owners of Michael's gaming establishment, The Fallen Angel, provide excellent depth to the plot. Character development is also well done. Narration mixed with direct communication of the characters’ thoughts show how the character come to think the way they do and how their motivations and reasoning changes. This series is a must read.

I'm not sure what puts a book ahead of similar ones. I think it's just good quality writing and intelligent handling of the characters. Everyone in this story is interesting, even the side characters. And the central relationship is really touching yet psychologically truthful. At 21 Michael lost his inheritance and family estate when his mentor conned him in a card game. Ten years later he is bitter and ruthless but financially successful. Then he discovers that his longed for family estate is now part of the dowry of a childhood friend. He sets out to acquire her as part of a plan of revenge. Michael sounds a lot like the boyfriend that you counsel your BFF to leave cause he's just not emotionally available. So his redemption is even more engrossing. One entertaining thing about historical romance is the variety of sex scenes. There are steamy billiard room acrobatics that give this book an MA rating, so not for younger readers.

Loved everything about this book. Couldn't put it down, not even for sleep. The story gets going from the beginning, doesn't waste time, no over descriptions, just great

Ten years ago, Michael Lawler, Marquess of Bourne, was left with nothing to his name except his title. Now a partner in London's most notorious gaming hell, Michael is a cold and ruthless man who will stop at nothing to get his revenge - even marrying Lady Penelope Marbury - his childhood friend for her dowry. Penelope was put firmly on the shelf when she was jilted and left for fortune hunters. She is determined to find adventure, passion and love. Luckily for her, Penelope dreams of finding all these things with her new husband, even if he's no longer the fun loving man she remembers. Bourne is determined to spare Penelope from the hard and unsavoury man he has become but he has no power to fight against the love that she will offer if he takes the greatest risk of all. -- Sarah MacLean has been an auto buy for me ever since I read the wonderful Nine Rules... This story doesn't quite reach the same heights but I still loved it and definitely feel it's deserving of 5 stars. Michael is my favourite kind of hero - tortured, full of angst and feels undeserving of, while really in need of, the love of a good woman. I also just adored Penelope. She appeared briefly in Eleven Scandals... but this book starts a new series (the Rules of Scoundrels Quartet) so there's no need to have read any books to understand and enjoy this one. Penelope was feisty and fun while also being quite vulnerable and naive at times. She was someone that I really rooted for from beginning to end. The relationship between Michael and Penelope was filled with chemistry and passion. The letters that started off each chapter were a lovely addition and really built on the pair's past relationship. It was also easy to see the pair growing and falling in love which was a treat to read and kept me turning the pages at all hours. I'm looking forward to the other stories in the series and would recommend this book to you if you like a fun and interesting romance with great characters and good storytelling. 5 stars.

I like it... Not really love it. It took time for the Hero to turn around and let go his stubbornness. Love the Heroine... My first book by the author. Her storytelling sets the tone for the series no doubt. Will read more of her books.

I liked the story, however I admit I skipped some pages because I was a little bored and somehow, when I began reading, after 2 hours, I’ve barely read 80 pages or so. I didn’t like Michael until the very last chapters, he was just so mean to Penelope since this was kind of a Hades/Persephone retelling. Anyway, I liked him a little bit more when he understood his wrong ways and realised how lucky he actually was of having Penelope’s love. In my opinion, he needed to grovel a little more. Penelope was amazing and definitely the tornado Michael needed to realise how much he was wasting his life on revenge. She was never the damsel in distress, in fact she was Michael’s hero.