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A rogue ruined . . .
He is the Killer Duke, accused of murdering Mara Lowe on the eve of her wedding. With no memory of that fateful night, Temple has reigned over the darkest of London’s corners for twelve years, wealthy and powerful, but beyond redemption. Until one night, Mara resurfaces, offering the one thing he’s dreamed of . . . absolution.
A lady returned . . .
Mara planned never to return to the world from which she’d run, but when her brother falls deep into debt at Temple’s exclusive casino, she has no choice but to offer Temple a trade that ends in her returning to society and proving to the world what only she knows...that he is no killer.
A scandal revealed . . .
It’s a fine trade, until Temple realizes that the lady—and her past—are more than they seem. It will take every bit of his strength to resist the pull of this mysterious, maddening woman who seems willing to risk everything for honor . . . and to keep from putting himself on the line for love.
Winner of the 2014 RITA Award for Historical Romance
Anonymous
Posted Fri Feb 14 00:00:00 EST 2014
Highly anticipated Temple's story. Unable to finish the book, however. Both H/h were great disappointments. Temple was unforgiveably addle-brained. Completely out of character from his previous depictions in the series. Mara was unforgiveable ... period. She was despicable. Could not tolerate them as a result.
Temple deserved far better storyline. His true love should have been a true heroine ... at least one who was redeemable.
Rated one star in order to post comments. In truth, the story did not even merit. Hesitant now to preorder the upcoming Chase's story.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.With each successive book in The Rules of Scoundrels series I am left more in awe of Sarah MacLean's talent. That talent is clearly on display in this story where she manages to transform a rather unlikable and unrepentant heroine into someone you can't help but admire. Paired with this unexpected heroine is a man who has wallowed in the pits of anger, guilt, and self-retribution over a lie beyond his control for the last twelve years. When these two meet, after that fateful event from twelve years ago, the sparks fly in a sensual battle of wills to bring these two lost souls back to life.
Temple was once the carefree Duke of Lamont, easy to smile and quick to enjoy the frivolities of life. At least he was until the night he was accused of killing his soon-to-be stepmother. From that moment on his life took a dark turn. He was disowned and he's treated as a pariah and a dangerous animal who's put on display every time he enters the boxing ring. Anger fuels his sparring, anger at those who put themselves in debt to enter the ring and anger at himself for where life has led him. I ached for the man fate made him become. Rage bubbling below the surface is his constant companion and I was waiting for the event to unleash that rage. Seeing a ghost from his past throws his life into disarray. He's now forced into interacting with the woman who ruined his life but he finds himself drawn to her and the verbal sparring that is a large part of their relationship. He's gone from a solitary existence to the chaos of children and the woman who angers him and excites him too. I enjoyed seeing Temple find someone to care for him and help him regain what he thought he lost. After being put through the emotional ringer he deserves a HEA.
The event that completely transforms Temple's life once again is the return of Mara Lowe, the woman he was accused of killing. One would expect her to feel guilty over the damage she caused, but that's not he case. She's a strong-willed woman who's unrepentant and unapologetic. Her reasons for coming back aren't to wholy help Temple but more to help herself. As a smart woman capable of taking care of herself she proposes a trade where he returns the money her brother squandered so she can fund her orphanage and she helps him regain his place in society by reentering the land of the living in a cleverly planned out series of events. Mara appears cold and uncaring at first but slowly thaws the longer she's around Temple. As we get glimpses into the abusive childhood that led her to running away that fateful night to the loving care she now takes of those who have no one the woman who emerges is an immensely likable one. She's now the one taking care of Temple, being his defender in many subtle ways, and I found myself rooting for her.
The relationship between these two is intensely sensual. Sexual tension is their constant companion resulting in lots of hot and heavy foreplay that had me greatly anticipating one fiery final culmination. Along with their intense sexual attraction comes biting verbal banter that made for many entertaining moments showing them to be a perfect match. Surrounding these two compelling main characters is a cast of colorful secondary characters. From Lavender the pig to the children in the orphanage to Mara's brother each of these characters added a unique element to the story binding Temple and Mara closer together in a story that I highly recommend.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Shortstride
Posted Tue Dec 10 00:00:00 EST 2013
The third book of scoundrels was just as good as the first two. The very last line was shocking (don't cheat and read it first, it will spoil the entire book for you). It was so shocking, I can't wait for Chase's book. Great job Sarah MacLean!
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun Dec 08 00:00:00 EST 2013
The premise of this book was preposterous. The hero was described as broad, wide, large ad nauseum. I get it. He was a large man. I skimmed the last half of the book and am sorry I finished it.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2013
Totally boring and wordy. In 70 pages and i dont care to read more. So disapointed
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sun Feb 09 00:00:00 EST 2014
I really enjoyed Sarah Macleans earlier books.....humourous, adventurous heroines, sympathetic characters. But this book just makes no sense..the suspense and supposed bargain or fight between the h and h rings false. You want to like Temple but he seems like an irrational cartoon. Its hard to like Mara because she seems so manipulative and dishonest. Can't recommend.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I absolutely think this is my second favorite book in this series at the moment. Even though it's the third book and we still have one more to go, this has pushed the intelligent accountant Cross from his post.
And don't get me started when I got to the end and saw the words "epilogue"!!! I went insane and all giddy. Oh yes, the super secret epilogue all we readers had been waiting for!!!But back to Temple. He is the giant beast we've seen and heard of from these past two books. The fighter and humorous giant that tortured his two closes friends when they were at love's door. And now it is his turn.
Ms. MacLean had called him the calm and peaceful member of the group and that was due to his very dark and sad past. Being known as the "Killer Duke" because he had "murdered" his future step-mother, he learned to control his movements and emotions for twelve years so that he can never hurt anyone ever again. Well, aside from being in the ring where everything is fought fairly, or while protecting someone out in the streets that is dear to him.
Temple Temple Temple. I was super surprised at how much control he had over himself while dealing with all the emotions and confusing things when it came to Mara. He got me to admire his strength and patience when he had the right to bring hell to the lady for her careless action. Temple also got me to forget that humorous fighter I adored and loved from the other books. Why? Because this was such a different side of him that I wasn't prepared for, which got me swooning for him even more. He had so much depth in his character that I just wanted to hold him and make him smile even if for a little while. And most definitely wanted to be that lady that held his attention. Those hard plains and features and Tattoos!!! Gosh I just wanted to lick him myself as quoted by Mara. LOL
But sadly, Mara. Mara Lowe. I really didn't like her that much in the first half of the book. She really got under my skin and made me side with Temple on almost every aspect. Though I understood her reasons for her actions, I just didn't think it was enough to keep on taunting him. Or the fact that she would always hide her reasons when Temple clearly gave her the chance to speak up and tell him the truth without him getting angry. It would have saved so much time on a lot of the misunderstandings. Yet this is a romance and it would have made for a very short story in which we wouldn't have gotten a chance to better aquatint ourselves with Chase and contemplate on who this mysterious Leader may be, or see the close friendship between Bourne, Cross, Chase, and the whole staff at The Angel. But as always, Mara does get better and I really do love her remarks at times when it came to teasing Temple to do her biddings.
Though I felt like it was a slow beginning and then rushed towards the end with their relationship, there had been great sexual tension between Mara and Temple throughout the whole book and with the added misunderstandings and confessions, it just stretched out their mending process to their HEA.
I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it because I really did. And it had me on edge and turning the pages as horror struck in the dead of night. It took me a bit longer to read through this to my surprise but I Love it!
There are some questions I thought needed answering which I will direct to Sarah if I find her email, otherwise off to FB I go. But I am super happy that we now know the secrets of Chase and how much the four of them work well to compliment each other.
This ARC was provided by Avon Publishing.
5/5
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Nov 26 00:00:00 EST 2013
This book was a surprise at how much I enjoyed reading it. It kept my interest until the end. Mystery and romance, a great combination for a good read.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Oct 03 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Captivating story telling and a plot that keeps you not wanting to put the book away. I love all the intigue that the characters in the books reveal as the story unfolds
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Aug 12 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Capitivating characters . This is well written story .
Read in 4/5 days.
Anonymous
Posted Sat Aug 02 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I just could not get into this story, i don't know if it was just me or the story
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Wed May 28 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I loved the cast and the story.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Okay, I admit it. I think I've become completely addicted to Sarah MacLean's Rule of Scoundrels series and No Good Duke Goes Unpunished is no different.
Here you have Temple, the Killer Duke, who isn't sure if he is or is not a killer. He's lived twelve years not knowing if he killed his father's young to-be bride, Mara Low. Until the girl shows up at his townhouse to plea for her brother's money back.
While Mara is set up as a woman to hate, I actually rather liked her. She made a mistake - a very big mistake - a mistake of a foolish young girl. She hadn't meant to set Temple up for her murder but once the die was cast, she didn't know how to call it back.
Now she's a Governess for a school of orphaned boys with a pig named Lavender.
Mara makes some mistakes in the book just as she did with her past but I'm okay with that because I like characters who make mistakes.
I really enjoyed watching the story unfold between Temple and Mara. The conflict is fabulous.
I will say - and this is WITHOUT spoilers - that the major plot twist at the end made my jaw drop and I want Chase's book - the final book of the series - so badly I can't stand it! It broke my brain and then I had to go back and look at all the books again to search for clues. I'm very excited for the final book to say the least.
To placate myself for the time being, I am going to have to go read Love by Numbers in the meantime. Same world, set about twelve years or so before these books.
I'm really enjoying this series revolving around the men who own an exclusive casino. Temple was kind of elusive figure in the previous books. I was eager to get to know him in this book.
Temple gives off the impression that he doesn't mind being thought of as off limits, frightening, etc. I had no idea how much it bothered him. But then again, I also did not know his story. It was not what I was expecting at all. It was interesting to read about the conflicting sides of his personality. He could be cold and ruthless and then turn around and be enduring and charming. In the end, I really just wanted him to be happy and get what he deserved. I didn't necessarily think it was gaining full acceptance of the ton.
I had an idea of what Mara's story really was. The final details were a little different, but I understood what she was trying to do. I also identified with why she decided to risk it all by coming out in public after so long. Sometimes, one will do anything for the only real connection you have with your old life. She never counted on the connection she would make with the man whose life she ruined.
I was a little afraid this might be the first time the couple couldn't overcome their own pride and realize they really belong together. Temple, especially seem to be holding on to the past (not that blame him). When the full story comes out about the details of that fateful night, it's almost laughable. A young naive girl facing an uncertain feature, she just took it a little too far.
I really liked this installment, both characters are likeable and I liked how it more about them. The romance was still there, but it seemed more a secondary thing. I can't wait until the next one!
Anonymous
Posted Thu May 08 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I gave it the stars it deserve and I am now giving it my review I have just found another good writer to add on to my list who knows how to weave a romance story. And a must do list of mine to read all the rest. This is my hobby and what I do best. So you must read Mara and William story and see if you agree with my review I know what reader of regecy romance wants and Ms. S.MacLean will give you just that. ENJOY Ms. D from Bronx,N.Y
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Sat Mar 29 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I find that when i dont like the female character of the book that it makes for a hard read so i skimmed through most if this one. I was actually looking forward to this one bc of temple but the story was made out to be dramactic when really it was just and author trying to create something out of nothing in my opinion.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Jan 28 00:00:00 EST 2014
This series is so good! Can't wait till Chase's story! This story won the award at the Romance Writers' Conference and I believe it is deserved.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.TallGal50
Posted Sun Jan 26 00:00:00 EST 2014
This book was very engaging and the storyline had little twists added throughout - keeping me interested and not wanting to put the book down. Temple started out in the series as this bigger than life man who intimidated everyone. Mara called him at one point in this series a "Greek God". Having Mara, a very strong willed woman, as an equal to Temple was spot on. Loved how the story unraveled - beautiful ending.
Sarah develops characters who seem realistic, they are interesting with their frailties slowly unraveled. I also appreciate her historical accuracy and research - with any deviation from reality mentioned at the end of her books. Her books are very enjoyable to read - each one better than the previous. The only comment I would make is to include a bit more on the characters from previous stories in the series; #3 was better than #2 with this point. Can't wait for series #4!
I have read all her books on my Nook and love it!
Gewizz
Posted Fri Jan 24 00:00:00 EST 2014
I absolutely love this series, and this book is by far the best! I can't wait for Chase's story!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Jan 10 00:00:00 EST 2014
Wish she'd have books out faster as I read them in 2 days then sit and wonder what's going on with the rest of the series and want to read them.
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Overview
A rogue ruined . . .
He is the Killer Duke, accused of murdering Mara Lowe on the eve of her wedding. With no memory of that fateful night, Temple has reigned over the darkest of London’s corners for twelve years, wealthy and powerful, but beyond redemption. Until one night, Mara resurfaces, offering the one thing he’s dreamed of . . . absolution.
A lady returned . . .
Mara planned never to return to the world...