A Rogue by Any Other Name: The First Rule of Scoundrels (Rules of Scoundrels, #1)

by Sarah MacLean and Rosalyn Landor

'Fabulous' Eloisa James
'Smart, sexy, and always romantic' Julia Quinn
'For a smart, witty and passionate historical romance, I recommend anything by Sarah MacLean' Lisa Kleypas

What a scoundrel wants, a scoundrel gets . . .

A decade ago, the Marquess of Bourne was cast from society with nothing but his title. Now a partner in London's most exclusive gaming hell, the cold, ruthless Bourne will do whatever it takes to regain his inheritance - including marrying perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury.

A broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships have left Penelope with little interest in a quiet, comfortable marriage. How lucky that her new husband has access to such unexplored pleasures. Bourne may be a prince of London's underworld, but he vows to keep Penelope untouched by its wickedness - a challenge indeed as the lady discovers her own desires, and her willingness to wager anything for them . . . even her heart.

This is the first novel in the Regency romance Rules of Scoundrels series by New York Time bestselling author Sarah MacLean - perfect for fans of Lisa Kleypas and Eloisa James

*Winner of the RITA Award for Best Historical Romance in 2013*

Rules of Scoundrels series:
A Rogue by Any Other Name
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover
No Good Duke Goes Unpunished
Never Judge a Lady By Her Cover

Praise for Sarah MacLean:

'Sarah MacLean has reignited the romance genre with a bolder edge' The New Yorker

'Funny, smart, feminist and roastingly hot' BookRiot.com

'Do yourself a favor and discover the compelling magic of Sarah MacLean' Amanda Quick

'MacLean writes with an entirely unique blend of elegance and ferocity that bursts from every page' Entertainment Weekly

'Great chemistry, intelligence and sparkling humor' RT Book Reviews

• ISBN10: 0062065386
• ISBN13: 9780062065384
• Publish Date: 28 February 2012
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[mrs_mander_reads]

Loved this! Another really excellent broody character in Michael (and I like that he has an angelic name to go along with the club), and Penelope kicks ass. Looking forward to more strong females in this series.

Lighthearted read. Bit weak in some places, stronger in others. I enjoyed the letter snippets at the start of the chapters - I felt that really gave a good insight into the characters. The revenge plot was a little ridiculous but it is what it is and overall the story was enjoyable. I enjoyed the banter between Phillipa and Penelope and even Olivia and wished there had of been more of that but perhaps in the next book.

[Katie King]

A little too much "I'm using you"/"How could you?" "I love him"/"He's awful" and then after all that constant through the story, it's resolved rather quickly. Also, her ruination? How would a woman as prim and proper as we're told have allowed that to happen when they were alone?? He wasn't going to force it!

[Angie]

A Rogue by Any Other Name is a tale of revenge and redemption! Nine years ago, Michael lost everything in a game of cards to his friend Tommy's father. Then Tommy's father lost the land to Penelope's father, and now he's added it as part of her dowry to make marriage to the 28 year old spinster more appealing. Of course, now that Michael has rebuilt his fortune, it's time for him to get his family's land back and exact his revenge. If he has to forcibly take his childhood friend as wife to get it, so be it!

A Rogue by Any Other Name and I got off to a rough start. It's not that I don't like revenge and blackmail plots, I do. I just didn't like Michael and how he went about it. I also didn't believe Penelope's response to it. This man trespasses, manhandles, kidnaps, and blackmails her into marrying him. What does she do? She spreads her legs and gets her first kiss and first orgasm. That's kind of an odd reaction to being kidnapped in the dead of night, isn't it? I mean, I know that she knows him, and that they were close once, but he straight up throws her over his shoulder and threatens her sisters to get her cooperation. I'm not okay with that.

I probably could have warmed up to Michael and supported a relationship between him and Penny if he hadn't continued treating her like garbage. As soon as they're married, he just dumps her off at home without a word. She's in a new place, doesn't know anyone, doesn't know how the house is run, but he doesn't care. He comes back to consummate the marriage, then leaves again. And if he isn't leaving her home alone, he's just being a jerk to her and reminding her that he's out for revenge and she better put on a happy face for the public. Penelope does stand up to him, but it isn't until she tells him not to touch her again that he suddenly wants her. She must take back what she said! He must get into her bed! He can't stand not having her! That's not love, that's just lust. He was still a jerk until a flip was switched at the very end and suddenly they're in love. When did that happen?!

A Rogue by Any Other Name isn't all bad. There were a few scenes that I really enjoyed. Penelope's dad coming after Michael, guns blazing, was quite hilarious. Don't all dads joke about having a shotgun handy for when their daughters start dating? Of course, I also loved Penelope telling Michael off when he's being even more of a brute than usual. And the ending was quite fantastic. Penelope finally gets a grand adventure and shows some awful men who's boss! You go, girl!

I wish there had been more of those humorous scenes and girl power in A Rogue by Any Other Name. I also just wish that Bourne hadn't been as much of a jerk as he was, or to at least see progress in him redeeming himself. He's awful until the end and Penelope falls for him anyway! I just can't look past that.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[nitzan_schwarz]

I love Sarah MacLean. Her books are so much fun! (Though [bc:Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake|6584134|Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Love By Numbers, #1)|Sarah MacLean|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1286649993s/6584134.jpg|6777627] is still my fave by her :P

[Michael @ Knowledge Lost]

After a broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships, Lady Penelope Marbury has all but given up on finding love. That was until she married the Marquess of Bourne, a prince of London’s underworld, a man cast from society into nothingness who is out for revenge. This wasn’t a marriage of love but convenience, Bourne married for the dowry and Penelope to avoid scandal and to ensure her sisters wouldn’t suffer the same fate.

You can guess how the story goes. He wants to keep Penelope away from his world and his underground gambolling house. She is bored, he is a prick. She wants adventure, hot sex and happily ever after. That is how regency romances work, right? Well, it does in this case with Sarah MacLean’s A Rogue by Any Other Name. I feel like I need to go back to my review of Outlander and pretty much cover the same issues again. The whole fantasy verse reality issue; my wife loves Outlander but I know her well enough to know she doesn’t really want someone like Jamie. In reality, if you were in a relationship with Jamie (from Outlander) or Michael Lawler (the Marquess of Bourne) you would be in an abusive one.

People are probably wondering why I decided to read A Rogue by Any Other Name; it wasn’t because it won the RITA Award for Best Historical Romance in 2013 because I don’t care about awards. There are a few reasons. Obviously I needed a romance novel for the Literary Exploration Reading Challenge. I know I could have gone with a literary romance novel but I was curious about Sarah MacLean mainly because she often talks about the intersection of feminism and the romance genre but also because the sex scenes are hot. Why not find out for myself?

Interestingly enough there was a very feminist vibe in this novel along with the whole cliché romance story arc. Penelope is portrayed as a very strong willed woman, willing to stand up to Michael’s stupid behaviour. She was in a situation where she had to think about her family and to avoid the scandals she made the choice to marry. The novel has a lot of other examples of feminism but what I liked about this book was the fact that most of the women were feisty and strong minded; they didn’t let the men control them. At times the men may think they are in control but they had no idea what they had gotten themselves into.

When it came to the sex scenes, yes they were hot and steamy but the fact that MacLean avoided most of those flowery euphemisms was what stood out to me. There were some cringe worthy phrases but as a whole the words seemed fitting. I know sex scenes are an important factor in deciding on which romance novels to read so I will say they were erotic, but there weren’t enough of them. Most of the time Penelope was the lonely wife and Michael didn’t want to corrupt her innocence, even if she was begging to be corrupted. However this is book one in The Rules of Scoundrels series so I’m assuming sex will be a more common thread in the next two books.

I’m not sure what the appeal is with romance novels but I will continue to try them. Personally I’m not that interested in reading more from The Rules of Scoundrels series but maybe I’ll try book one of her other series, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (just because I like the name). Sarah MacLean’s written style is pretty good, the plots are pretty basic but she makes up for that with strong women and steamy sex. There is a black strip along the right hand side of the book cover; does anyone know what that means? If you are a fan of romance then I’m sure Sarah MacLean is someone you should be reading; it is better than the Outlander series.

This review originally appeared on my blog; http://literary-exploration.com/2014/02/08/a-rogue-by-any-other-name-by-sarah-maclean/

[Amanda]

Excuse me while I go seek out all Sarah MacLean's other historical romances. I find that I simply must read them all. Have you ever picked up a book only to discover that its genre is exactly what you needed? That's what A Rogue by Any Other Name did to me: historical romances are my current choice of book drug. And I'm not ready to give it up.

A Rogue by Any Other Name came recommended to me by Nikki. I've always enjoyed historical romances, but they seem to inevitably land in my second spot. I love them, but... there's always another genre that occupies the number one spot. But this book taught me that sometimes you just need to embrace the historical. Fantastic recommendation, Nikki.

This was, for me, a pure escape read. One, like Maya Banks's Highlanders series, I devoured in a single day. It's the type of book you throw yourself into the arms of and swoon a little. Yeah, I went there. So what?

From a historical romance standpoint, A Rogue by Any Other Name was a fairly straightforward book. But I had ALL THE EMOTIONS and enjoyed the journey that Bourne and Penelope were on. Nothing fells me quite like the stupid, pig-headed male realizing his intelligent wife is exactly the one he needs. (And let's not forget the sex. Because really, ladies.)

The scandals and scoundrel aspect of A Rogue by Any Other Name was fun. Historical settings often focus on what's proper, and so anything that's not is, of course, deliciously naughty. One might even say wanton if one was so inclined. (I am, of course.) So this? This was definitely the perfect way to spend an afternoon. And I must prepare for my trip to the library to get more Sarah MacLean books. *walks off in a swirl of skirts*

[kimbacaffeinate]

4.5 A Rogue By Any Other Name is the first in the Rules of Scoundrels series and absolutely yummy. If you’ve been following my blog, you have read my reviews for MacLean’s Love by Numbers series and are probably aware that I adore this author and was sad to see the series end. Her tales captivate me, as they deliver feisty strong-willed heroines and the swoon-worthy men they tame. Imagine my delight when I realized this new series featured a character I met in the last one. I quickly consumed this and loved every delicious moment of it.

Ten years ago the, Marquess of Bourne lost everything in a card game to the ruthless Viscount of Langford. He has regained his wealth and is part owner of a popular gaming hall called, The Fallen Angel. He desperately wants to regain the land surrounding his entailed manor Falconwell. When he learns Marbury has won the land in a card game and made it part of Lady Penelope Marbury’s dowry, he sets off to get the land. He will obtain the land by whatever means necessary. Lady Penelope was a childhood friend of Michael Bourne. She faithfully wrote him, even after the scandal, but she hasn't heard from him since. She was once considered the darling of the ton and was briefly engaged to a Duke; until a scandal occurred forcing her father to break the engagement. Now her father is forcing her to marry this season and has sweetened the pot in order to ensure good offers. Penelope longs for love but may have to settle for less. The tale that unfolds was captivating as these two souls came together. Penelope is not the young girl Michael remembers and the past ten years have changed Michael. He is dark, bitter and cold.

I adore the characters MacLean creates and the dark, sexy, damaged, Marquess of Bourne is no exception. Michael wants revenge but gets a whole lot more than he bargained for. Penelope is the perfect heroine. She is witty, intelligence and the perfect woman to save Michael. Admittedly I did not like her in Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Dukes Heart. She has grown and I found this mature, feisty head strong woman to be a delight. I hated the Viscount of Langford and delighted in meeting the other owners of the Fallen Angel. These men made me laugh aloud. We get to meet Penelope’s sisters and I am hoping to learn more about them and the other scoundrels.

I love stepping into MacLean’s books and the world she creates. Besides well fleshed out, flawed characters, she brings us humor, suspense and a steamy romances. I have a thing for bad boys and love watching the woman bring them to heel. This author has a knack for offering up a dish that leaves me well satisfied. The romance was hot, steamy, tender, humorous and completely delicious. Once again I find myself immersed in another series and cannot wait for the next installment.