A Rogue by Any Other Name (Rules of Scoundrels, #1)

by Sarah MacLean and Rosalyn Landor

[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.