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

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.

A Rogue by Any Other Name is the first book in Sarah MacLean's The Rules of Scoundrels series and from the first page to the last is filled with emotion - happiness, heartbreak, passion, romance - a truly fabulous story! I often find, with historical romances, that the rules society has placed on the women can make them seem mousey and pathetic, so I love it when an author takes those women and makes them strong enough to laugh at their peers - or at least not care enough to conform to what's expected of them. That always makes for some funny, sexy stories, and that's what Ms. MacLean has done with A Rogue by Any Other Name. I thoroughly enjoyed the Love By Numbers series - in fact, I've often said that if I could choose to be any heroine from a historical romance novel, it would be Lady Calpurnia Hartwell from Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake. She's strong, independent, feisty, funny... I'd be her in a heartbeat, but to be honest, I feel that way about most of Sarah MacLean's heroines. Rarely do I get as attached to the heroine of a story as I do to the hero, but with this author's books, I always do. But I digress.... Our hero, Michael, Marquess of Bourne, is horrible! He's not just an ass, he's a pain in the ass! And I adored every single bit of him! You just know that in the end, he's going to get his, and watching it come about is just so much fun! We go from him devising his plan for revenge, then watching him carry it out, knowing that he never considers - not even for a moment - that it won't go as flawlessly as he expected. Then we see, bit by bit, the transformation; the shock when he starts to question his motives, his feelings, his true wants and desires. I absolutely love watching this transformation! Our heroine, Lady Penelope Marbury, truly is my kind of woman. As I said above, Sarah MacLean is one of the few authors who can write heroines who are as perfect as her heroes. Penelope is, in some ways, a victim of her times, but she doesn't let those suffocating rules of society keep her from having an "adventure". I LOVE this about her! She reminds me somewhat of Lady Calpurnia, and perhaps that's why I adore her so much. She didn't sit about whimpering or simpering as she did her needlework, waiting for something exciting to happen. Nope! She found ways to create her own excitement. I love how she took life by the horns and didn't let go! And the story! Oh, my goodness! Take a rake - or in this case, a rogue - and give him a truly compelling, believable need for revenge, then toss in an innocent, but not naïve, heroine, and you have the makings of an incredible story, and that's what this one is. Twists, turns, heartache and happiness - never a dull moment and I adored every word! The bottom line: It probably goes without saying, but I can't say it enough - I love this story! It was filled with emotion and had me laughing, sighing and fanning myself, start to finish. Sarah MacLean is one of the few "auto-buy" authors on my list, and books like A Rogue by Any Other Name is why. I am soooo looking forward to the next book in the series, One Good Earl Deserves a Lover and cannot wait to watch Penelope's sister, Lady Philippa Marbury, match wits with the man known only as Cross, the bookkeeper of the The Fallen Angel gaming hell. That is a story guaranteed to deliver everything I crave in historical romance, and a story not to be missed!

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.