A Rogue By Any Other Name ~ Review

Rule of Scoundrels #1

Back Blurb :

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.

My View :

Book one in the Rules of Scoundrels series is just superb, the fact that this whole series is generated around the founders of a Gaming Hell/Casino is such a change from what we are used to and I love that.

Bourne or more accurate Michael Lawler; Marquess of Bourne is one of the founders of the most sought-after club in all of Britain, as a young man he lost everything he had on one bet and he was left with nothing more than the clothes on his back, a guinea in his pocket and a tarnished title. Now years later he is a cold, heartless and hardened man who takes everything he want’s and has no mercy for anything or anyone that get’s in his way. So when the chance to get back his birthright he takes it no matter the cost. And the cost to get his family home back is to marry the sweet and innocent Penelope Marbury.

So Bourne being the scandals Gaming Hell king that he is does exactly what he is best at and that is manipulating everyone around him to get what he want’s, he kidnaps Penelope and ruin’s her so that she has no choice but to marry him and alas he gets his family’s stronghold. Bourne has it all planned out, marry her and then ignore her. . .The only problem with that plan is that Penelope isn’t happy with that arrangement and she wants more what Bourne didn’t bank on was that Penelope is just as brutal and manipulative as him.

The relationship between Bourne and Penelope is strained at the best of times, they have been thrown together and now they have to put up with each other, Bourne tries his best to ignore the fact that he even has a wife and goes about his business as though nothing as even occurred. But the thing that you see instantly is that these two do genuinely love each other, those little touches and glances when Bourne has let his mask slip is really beautiful.

“I intend to play. We require a dealer.”

Michael’s gaze snapped to her as Langford sneered, “I will not play cards with a woman.”

She took the seat at one side of the table. “I usually will not play cards with men who rob children of their inheritance, but tonight appears to be one for exceptions.”

Cross looked to Michael. “She is incredible.”

Possessiveness flared as he took his seat, eyes on his wife. “She is mine.”

I think that Bourne is a brilliant character, he does come across as a hard man but once you get past that steel exterior you will see that he is a very emotional man, he is exceedingly protective, and he is like a wolf with all teeth and bite but also soft and loving. Bourne has had a tough time, losing everything when he was nothing but a teenager really had an effect on him, he built his life back up from nothing to be the powerful man he is now, and I really like that I like that he has pulled himself up and he is, in essence, a self-made man he has worked hard to be where he is and that in its self deserves respect.

Penelope is just perfect for this hard, unreadable man she is the epitome of sweetness and light but she has got real strength of character, a strength that she has had to acquire during the last few years since her failed betrothal. She can be as hard and manipulative as Bourne and that makes their arguments and the sex scenes fiery. they really are a perfect match for one another.

Dear Sixpence,

I saved them all, you know. Every letter you ever sent, even those to which I never replied. I’m sorry for so many things, my love: that I left
you; that I never came home; that it took me so long to realize that you were my home and that, with you by my side, none of the rest
mattered.
But in the darkest hours, on the coldest nights, when I felt I’d lost everything, I still had your letters. And through them, in some small way,
I still had you.
I loved you then, my darling Penelope, more than I could imagine—just as I love you now, more than you can know.

Michael

The four founding members of the exclusive, powerful The Fallen Angel are four of the best character’s I have come across, they are cold, brutal, powerful, elusive and secretive. Bourne, Cross, Temple and Chase are a foursome to be reckoned with and I can see as the series goes along that I am going to have a lot of fun getting to know these four.

The is such a great book and a brilliant start to a series, it is intelligently written with a great plot and a marvellous bunch of characters and I am thoroughly looking forward to seeing how the series ends and what’s in store for it the other three.

A superb start to what I know is going to be a brilliant series.

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