{Book Review} One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean

Synopsis:

The second in the incredible new Rules of Scoundrels series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean.

Lady Philippa Marbury is odd. The bespectacled, brilliant fourth daughter of the Marquess of Needham and Dolby cares more for books than balls, flora than fashion and science than the season. Nearly engaged to Lord Castleton, Pippa wants to explore the scandalous parts of London she's never seen before marriage. And she knows just who to ask: the tall, charming, quick-witted bookkeeper of The Fallen Angel, London's most notorious and coveted gaming hell, known only as Cross.

Like any good scientist, Pippa's done her research and Cross's reputation makes him perfect for her scheme. She wants science without emotion—the experience of ruination without the repercussions of ruination. And who better to provide her with the experience than this legendary man? But when this odd, unexpected female propositions Cross, it's more than tempting . . . and it will take everything he has to resist following his instincts—and giving the lady precisely what she wants.

Sarah MacLean. I just love your Regency Romances. They are funny, romantic, and so richly detailed in the Regency era.

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is Pippa’s book, in which she attempts to scientifically seduce Mr. Cross, an owner of The Fallen Angel, one of London’s most successful and notorious gaming hells. The reason for this scientific inquiry is because she is newly engaged to one Lord Castleton, and she has no idea what to expect from marriage. Oh, she understands the mechanics of it all, but she needs an expert to explain it to her, to show her.

Already sounds super trashy right? I was surprised to find this book was far more interesting than that, although I shouldn’t be surprised, since I already knew I loved Sarah MacLean’s writing.

Pippa is odd, but in an adorable way. She’s very clever, inquisitive, with a mind for science and math. Her betrothed, Lord Castleton, is none of these things, though the little we see of him shows his kindness. But eventually Pippa realizes she doesn’t want only kindness. She wants someone who will challenge her to be better, smarter, more inquisitive. And she finds that in Cross.

Cross is a good old tortured hero. He has a…negative… reputation, but fortunately for us and for Pippa, that reputation is largely gossip, begun by himself and perpetuated by society. He too is brilliant, clever and scientific, but yes, tortured. Dark. Gloomy. Pippa is a ray of sunshine that streams into his life and won’t leave, no matter how hard he pushes.

So, there’s oodles of sexual tension here. Pippa pretty much asks Cross to “ruin” her in the first chapter of the book. He refuses, but of course, they get back around to the subject eventually, and well, I’m sure you can guess what happens.

It’s sex. Just in case you’re a really bad guesser.

This is my favorite Sarah MacLean I’ve read so far. Can’t wait to keep reading her books.