One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (Rules of Scoundrels, #2)

by Sarah MacLean

[Angie]

In a time where women aren’t told anything about sex other than that they’re expected to take whatever their husband gives, Pippa is utterly clueless about what’s to come after she’s married. As a woman of science, that it just unacceptable. So, One Good Earl Deserves a Lover finds her in Cross’s office asking him to explain the finer points of bedroom activities to her. Needless to say, Cross is shocked by her request and turns her away. It isn’t until he realizes that she’s determined to know at any cost, and that he’s severely tempted by her, that he finally decides to give her lessons in temptation.

I absolutely adored One Good Earl Deserves a Lover. I love Pippa! She is me, if I were a sheltered debutante in 1832. We’re both scientists, and we both don’t like entering new situations without doing our homework first. She also shares my habit of only answering questions that are asked and not the ones that are implied. We’re very literal creatures. Pippa knows she’s odd, but the accepts that. She is who she is, and she’s not going to change. She’s also extremely honest, and will not renege on her promise to marry Castleton, even if she knows he’s not on her level intellectually. They both love dogs, and that’s more than she’ll probably have in common with any other husband. It may not be a love match, but she wants to be a good wife and mother. Hence, doing her own research on the matter.

Do be aware that One Good Earl Deserves a Lover involves cheating. Pippa is engaged, and she does go to Cross for information, which turns into more hands on lessons. He knows she’s engaged, but goes along with it anyway. I don’t mind cheating, as long as the author doesn’t try to justify it by making the person being cheated on evil and “deserving” of it. That doesn’t happen here, and I really liked how it was all resolved. Pippa gets more than she bargained for, but like I said, she’s extremely honest. She’s not one to enter a relationship with lies, and I liked how she and Castleton handled her indiscretion.

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover also made me laugh out loud and smile a ton. Pippa is just so innocent and determined to learn. When Cross initially dismisses her, she decides that a prostitute would likely have the answers she’s looking for, too! Her scene with Sally is hilarious! Then her first lesson with Cross nearly had me swooning! Those two have amazing chemistry!

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover was just great. The characters were likeable and made me smile. The romance was sexy and full of tension! I even really enjoyed Cross’s side plot involving some unpaid debts and blackmail. I also loved Pippa’s very clever solution to that problem!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.