C2’s review of A Rogue by Any Other Name: The First Rule of Scoundrels (Rules of Scoundrels, Book 1) by Sarah MacLean
Historical Romance published by Avon 28 Feb 12

Scoundrels! Scandals! Gambling! A new series that combines all three? I am so there. In her new series, Sarah MacLean returns to Regency London and tells the stories of four lords who, for various reasons, have been cast out of good society. Will love help them put their scandalous pasts behind them?

Twenty-one year-old Michael Lawler, Marquess of Bourne, lost everything not entailed to his title – and very little was not part of the entail – on one turn of the cards. The engineer of this catastrophe, Viscount Langford, was the young marquess’s guardian..the very man who had managed the estate until Michael reached adulthood.

A decade later, Michael (now known only as Bourne) is a partner in one of London’s notorious gaming clubs – The Fallen Angel. He does not move in polite society or do anything marquess-y. Bourne has spent his time regaining the fortune he lost and awaiting vengeance. So when Michael receives word that the land surrounding his very small entailed estate no longer belongs to Langford and is now part of a dowry, he knows what he has to do.

Lady Penelope Marbury is very nearly on the shelf. After a broken engagement years before, Penelope’s status in the ton has steadily dropped – and she doesn’t really mind. Penelope wishes for a love match like the one her former fiancé found or a marriage that isn’t just for convenience, at least. However, Penelope’s unmarried state is beginning to affect her younger sisters’ chances at making a good match and her parents are not above forcing her to pick a suitor. Still, they aren’t cruel people…Penelope’s father recently won a large parcel of land form a neighbor – land that borders her family’s estate. That estate has been added to Penelope’s dowry in hopes it will renew interest in her and give her more choices when it comes to picking a husband.

Penelope and Michael grew up together. They, along with Thomas (son of Viscount Langford), were the best of friends until time and distance (and life) pulled them apart. Penelope and Thomas remained friends, actually. But Penelope always preferred Michael. In fact, even after he went off to school, they wrote to each other until someone decided it didn’t look right for a young lady and gentleman to correspond…and after that, too.

Penelope doesn’t quite know what to think about Michael’s land being added to her dowry. It is a wonderful estate and will certainly attract attention, but that isn’t what she wants. During a sleepless night, when she must get out of the house, Penelope walks through part of her new land. And who does she encounter in the dark? Michael!

Bourne has changed a lot from when they were children. Even though Penelope is friendly and tries to make him smile, he remains aloof. Penelope is hurt by Bourne’s continued coldness toward her – hurt enough to want to strike back at him. She tells him that he is on her land, that she is engaged and that she and her future husband plan to live there quite happily. Too late, Penelope realizes she might have pushed Michael too far.

Bourne takes Penelope to his abandoned house. He decides the easiest way to ensure a marriage – and get his land back – is to compromise her. After spending the night alone with him in an empty house, her father can hardly refuse his suit. After much arguing, Penelope sees she will not be able to talk Michael out of his nefarious plan and sets about negotiating the best outcome for her and her family. (An aside – the scene the following morning, when Penelope’s dad comes to find them? Funniest scene ever!)

Penelope and Bourne marry and begin to find a way to move forward in their lives. Deals are negotiated and wagers are made. But there are other scandals waiting in the wings. Scandals that will force Michael to decide between revenge and people he cares about.

Oh, faithful reader, I very much enjoyed this book. I always like watching a scoundrel come up against the person who makes him want to be better. And I also like it when a heroine that’s been floating along in life suddenly is forced awake and decides to take an active role in how her life goes. Michael encourages Penelope to push for what she wants…to take advantage of opportunities. And from the first, Penelope gets past the walls he has built up as Bourne and finds the parts of Michael that still exist. Also, the letters that open each chapter are a nice touch, I think. They give the reader a glimpse of Penelope and Michael before life happened to them.

I had no plans to read this book until the blurb caught my attention. My previous experiences with Ms. MacLean’s books have been mixed. I thought her first book was okay, but I could not get into the second book, so I never bothered to try the third (this book is loosely connected to that book, by the way). But I am so glad I decided to give it a try! And I am looking forward to the next book (I loves me some scoundrels, remember). I say the book stands alone just fine. However, if you remember “The Grape” from Ms. MacLean’s previous book and wonder how things turned out for her, here is your chance to find out. Otherwise, if you are looking for a book with heart and touches of humor, I encourage you to try this one. You won’t be sorry. Besides, don’t you want to know what the first rule is??

Grade: A-

Summary: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, and a longing for something more. How lucky that her new husband has access to an unexplored world of pleasures.
Bourne may be a prince of London’s illicit 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.

Read an excerpt (scroll down).

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