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Lady Philippa Marbury is . . . odd
The brilliant, bespectacled daughter of a double marquess cares more for books than balls, for science than the season, and for laboratories than love. She's looking forward to marrying her simple fiancé and living out her days quietly with her dogs and her scientific experiments. But before that, Pippa has two weeks to experience all the rest—fourteen days to research the exciting parts of life. It's not much time, and to do it right she needs a guide familiar with London's darker corners.
She needs . . . a Scoundrel
She needs Cross, the clever, controlled partner in London's most exclusive gaming hell, with a carefully crafted reputation for wickedness. But reputations often hide the darkest secrets, and when the unconventional Pippa boldly propositions him, seeking science without emotion, she threatens all he works to protect. He is tempted to give Pippa precisely what she wants . . . but the scoundrel is more than he seems, and it will take every ounce of his willpower to resist giving the lady more than she ever imagined.
PolishedBookworm
Posted January 29, 2013
A fun, touching and sensual tale ...
featuring a couple that makes you believe in soul mates. Everything you could want in a romantic read!
Not only does the main couple share an intellectual connection, there’s a sizzling undercurrent of desire flowing between them. Ms. MacLean has written one of the most sensual scenes I’ve ever read where the couple never actually touch! Seriously scorching encounters abound in this book, made all the more compelling since there is such a believable emotional bond between Pippa and Cross (they actually TALK to each other about things that matter!).
This is a story about two people who truly ‘get’ each other and accept one another as they are. I enjoyed the balance of humor with the emotional elements in this book and appreciated the honesty between the characters. Cross annoyed me a bit when he tried to do the ‘noble’ thing and let Pippa go but she redeemed the situation by taking charge and saving the day – thereby saving Cross too. I really believe in their Happy Ever After.
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.~Reviewed by SUZANNE & posted at Under the Covers Book Blog
What I really liked about One Good Earl Deserves a Lover was the heroine Pippa….she was like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory but with feelings and a sex drive.~ Under the Covers
Lady Philippa Marbury is not only the youngest Marbury sister, but also the oddest, much more interested in science and botany rather then balls and fashion she approaches her upcoming marriage the only way she can, logically. Research needs to be done, especially regarding the wedding night, and her evidence suggests that Cross, one of the owners of the gaming hell The Fallen Angel is the perfect research assistant. When Philippa Marbury casually asks Cross about ruination and copulation he can barely control his passion for the odd but brilliant Pippa. But Cross knows he doesn’t deserve someone as lovely and tempting as her no matter what his heart and body want.
Sarah Maclean has definitely become one of my favourite Historical Romance authors, from her debut book to this one, they have never failed in making making me smile and enjoying every word. They are light hearted and fun, with inviting and likable characters with titles that are invariably too long!
What I really liked about One Good Earl Deserves a Lover was the heroine Pippa, I love a blue stocking/plain Jane story and she definitely fulfills the bluestocking part, she was clever and bookish caring not at all for fashion and suitors. I loved watching her shock Cross when she would say something outrageous but logical especially regarding “coitus”; she was like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory but with feelings and a sex drive.
Although I really enjoyed this book I have found the heroes in Sarah Macleans book a little lacking, it seems she can write a spectacular heroine that leave the heroes in the dust. This didn’t exactly happen in this book, I did like Cross, but he was definitely outshone, it won’t be him I remember about One Good Earl Deserves a Lover. But that didn’t mean Pippa and Cross didn’t have chemistry, they had some witty and amusing banter that gradually heated up over the book as Pippa starts becoming more aware of her desires culminating in some passionate and sweet steamy scenes.
What people might find a little objectionable is that whilst Pippa and Cross are meeting up, Pippa is engaged to another man. Her betrothed is kind and generous and even though they are obviously not right for one another that was still one aspect of the story that bugged me a little even though it was essential to the plot and all’s well that ends well!
I thought this book was fantastic, a perfect combination of lighthearted fun and sweet romance and I can’t wait to find out more about the other two men that run The Fallen Angel, the mysterious Chase and the disgraced Duke!
*ARC provided by publisher
4 out of 5 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 February 5, 2013
I have read all of Sarah's books. I was so anxious for this one and I'm sorry to say it was by far my least favorite. I love her books and will buy the next one, but this one was a little disappointing. It was just alright.
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 February 10, 2013
Thought that this book was even better than the first in the series. Characters were believable and likable; dialogue was witty; scenes (be it sensual or otherwise) really drew me in. And above all, this book creates an intense and passionate chemistry between the couple that was thrilling to read. I had a very hard time putting this one down and am looking forward to a third book!
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.msmoonlite
Posted February 6, 2013
She's written better, in my opinion. The premise is a good one, extra smart heroine with tortured hero. I really liked Cross, and I liked Phillipa a lot. The love scenes were steamy but there was something about the book left me hanging.
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.fishgirl182
Posted February 1, 2013
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is the second book in Sarah MacLean’s The Rules of Scoundrels series, set in a popular gaming hell. Sarah MacLean has quickly become one of my favorite historical romance authors. One Good Earl did not disappoint and I hard time putting this one down.
The novel opens and we find Lady Philippa Marbury in the private office of Cross, notorious rake and part owner of The Fallen Angel. You see, Pippa has a problem. She’s getting married in a week and doesn’t know what to expect. A scientist at heart, Pippa doesn’t like to go into a situation without all the facts. So she enlists Cross to help educate her on the rules of seduction and desire. Pippa is looking for an education without emotion but experiments sometimes have the most unexpected results.
First off, I love the dedication to this book which his “For girls who wear glasses.” I think that’s the perfect setup for a book about a heroine who isn’t like the other ladies of her peerage. Philllipa has a decidedly scientific mind and is more interested in learning about the muscles and bones in the human body then the latest London fashions. Pippa is a really unique and refreshing character. She’s extremely smart and tenacious, but also sweet and a little bit naïve. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to Pippa, a woman who’s always felt a little out of place. I love that she doesn’t try to change or compromise herself to fit in.
Cross is an unlikely match for Pippa but ends up being quite perfect for her. He doesn’t find Phillipa odd at all and instead admires her curiosity and intelligence. Unfortunately he has a few skeletons in his closet that he believes makes him unworthy of Pippa’s love. Cross is an honorable man living with a lot of guilt from the past. He’s also quite stubborn, which made me want to smack him a few times. But with a little bit of perseverance, Pippa manages to break down the walls that he’s built. It should also be noted that Cross is a ginger. Yes, ginger. There aren’t enough hot gingers in romance novels so thank you, Ms. MacLean.
The romance in this was surprisingly sweet and the science talk made for some really cute love scenes. The only thing I wasn’t really happy about was the resolution between Cross and his estranged family, or the lack of one. Cross’s past is the thing that has kept him apart from society for so long and the thing that almost keeps him from Pippa. However, the issue all but disappears once Pippa and Cross finally get together. I have an e-ARC so maybe it’ll be added in later, but the omission of it was something that I definitely noticed. Otherwise, this was a great read. Fun, sexy, and emotional, One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is all of the things I love and have come to expect from Sarah MacLean.
*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
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 May 20, 2013
One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is the second book that I read from Sarah MacLean and it blew me away! The first book that I read, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, was a DNF for me (for some reason that I cannot recall) but I may have to reread this and see if it would change my rating.
Let me just say that I fell in love with Cross and Philippa the first time I read their verbal sparring. Both of these characters are so likable and the chemistry between the two pretty much jumped off the page! Pippa is really naive, adventurous, and too serious for her own good that I was practically laughing at her notions and thoughts. I also thought she was the perfect match for Cross who I see as a sensitive man despite his sordid past and reputation.
[spoiler]When first we meet Pippa, she is pretty much a bluestocking, odd (as she calls herself), and does everything by the book. She is engaged to be married to Lord Castleton but is not in love with him and sees the marriage as her duty. Her sister Olivia, is also set to be married on the same day but her marriage it seems, is one of love. It is revealed that Olivia and her betrothed have done things that normal couples do and this comes to Pippa’s attention. Obviously, she is in a very staid relationship with Lord Castleton so she finds a rogue to teach her in the art of ruination. She propositions Cross, part owner of the gentleman’s club, The Fallen Angel, who is also her brother-in-law’s partner.
Cross, in charge of the financial aspect of The Fallen Angel, is smart, a rogue, and an earl who turned his back on his legacy when he, as a second son, inherited the title upon his brother’s death. The moment Cross meets Pippa, he is instantly drawn to her odd quirkiness but does not act on it. He refuses to help Pippa but does not want any other man to help her. In the end, he relents and teaches her without physically touching her.
The villain in this story is not really evil. He has a score to settle with Cross and blackmails him into marrying his daughter. Cross, trying to save Pippa and for once, does the right thing (in his mind), agrees to marry his daughter and breaks off with Pippa. That is, until Pippa takes matters into her own hands.[/spoiler]
I love Pippa’s metamorphosis (which was referenced in the book) from a naive Lady to someone who knows what she wants and goes after it, which I thought was unique. I did not expect the twists in the end and how she conspired with Temple to fix the gaming tables, cards, and dice to get what she wants even when she knows that it is not the right thing to do.
I especially loved the conversations between both Cross and Pippa. The scientific references were spot on and I loved the journal entries before each chapter. All their encounters were simmering with heat, tension and passion that made me not want to put the book down. I loved that each and every interaction between the two protagonists drove the whole story, with the villain, not really paying a big role in the book.
This book earned 5 Hearts for me and I am now reading the first book of the series, A Rogue by Any Other Name.
Anonymous
Posted May 1, 2013
The author really pulls you in to her stories. I wasn't sure how Pippa & Cross were going to pull off their happy ending, but they managed it beautifully. I can't for the next book in this series to come out.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 28, 2013
I really liked this story because I could relate so much with Pippa. So it's fun when the "odd" smart girl finds her match!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 17, 2013
Liked Pippa and Cross, but too bad there are not follow-up books for the other two scoundrels.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged. I was so excited to learn that this second book was about Lady Philippa. There was something about her in this first book that just really grabbed me. I love stories that let the blue stocking girl fall in love.
I love that Pippa tries to made everything about love and marriage a scientific thing. She doesn't understand things that you can't explain. Since she hasn't experienced any of it, she doesn't feel like she can undertake her vows without fully understanding what it means. I love that she's though this whole thing through to the point that she knows who to ask. And it never crosses her mind to be afraid of what she is considering doing. In her mind it's nothing more than research.
I think Cross might be one of my favorite male romance characters. When we learn the full extent of his past and how he's been punishing himself, I was amazed that he had any willpower at all. I think Pippa was just the women he needed to forgive himself for his past sins.
The more I learn about this gaming hell, the more intrigues me. While obviously not a business of well repute, it has an interesting reputation. It has some interesting secrets as do its owners. I'm happy to learn a few more of them in the next book in the series.
Anonymous
Posted April 13, 2013
Pippa and Cross were intriguing and amusing. I couldn't put it down!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Frenchiebella
Posted April 11, 2013
I liked this book much better than the first in this series. Pippa is so much fun, and so smart! I love intelligent female characters who outsmart their men ;-).... buy it!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 11, 2013
Well worth reading
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Seamless
Posted April 10, 2013
Ok I loved it and would definitely recommend it but as a side note can I just add that the author's insistence on repeatedly using the line "she pushed her spectacles up the bridge of her nose" took away from some of the romantic and steamy scenes haha I still laughed though I just didn't really want to be laughing at those times
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 24, 2013
A must read.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 19, 2013
Another enjoyable read by Sarah MacLean, but that's not surprising. I thought the premise was a little bit ridiculous, but it was easy to over look. As usual, MacLean writes lovely characters. I absolutely adored Pippa, and Cross was certainly yummy as well. I don't think there's anything sexier than intelligence, and both characters possess it in spades. I had a few minor quibbles while I was reading it, but I honestly can't remember them now.
I can't wait to finish this series, especially Chase's book.
RomanceReaderRI
Posted March 13, 2013
Witty dialogue and true emotional connection between Pippa and Cross
make this second installment of the Rule Of Scoundrels series a must -read. I loved that Pippa was different and that Cross loved her for that. This was an emotional and enchanting story that sucked me in right from the dedication - "For girls who wear glasses".
luv2ReadLR
Posted March 4, 2013
I loved it. Cross was hot and Pippa was refreshing. Loved their story and I can't was for Temple's story. I think his story is going to be
Even hotter than the other two books. I can't wait..
lacynpiper
Posted March 3, 2013
I have to admit that I adore Sarah MacLean's books. I've read all of her books, except for the first one, and they are easily some of my favorite books ever. One Good Earl does not disappoint. The hero is conflicted without being annoyingly stubborn and the heroine is smart and determined. I have no earthly idea if this book, or any historical romance I read, is historically accurate but that's not why I read them. Every second of this book was fun and lighthearted. It was one of those books that was so good that it made me want to go back and reread the first book in the series to see if it was as good as this one. I really can't say enough good things about this book. I can't wait for the next one in the series to come out!!!
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Overview
Lady Philippa Marbury is . . . odd
The brilliant, bespectacled daughter of a double marquess cares more for books than balls, for science than the season, and for laboratories than love. She's looking forward to marrying her simple fiancé and living out her days quietly with her dogs and her scientific experiments. But before that, Pippa has two weeks to experience all the rest—fourteen days to research the exciting parts of life. It's not much...