ASIN: B00BEFPSMA
ISBN-13: 978-0062065407
Publisher: HarperCollins
Line: Avon
Release Date: Nov 26, 2013
Pages: 400
Digital Retail: 7.99
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Genre: Historical
Heat Level: Hot
Rating:
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.
Review
I didn’t expect to like it; even more surprising was when I loved it!
With most of the books I select to review I don’t read cover blurbs, and usually I have no clue what the story will be about expect maybe a particular hero or heroine in a series. This selection was made because I’d already invested myself in Maclean’s Rules of Scoundrels series and I believe in finishing what one starts. Let me finish this thought by saying that Cross, from book 2 in the series, was my favorite character of the four scoundrels and I didn’t think Temple would impress. I was wrong.
Temple is a man who rules the world with his fists. He’s known as the ‘Killer Duke’ and refuses to lay claim to his lands or estate while the moniker stands. Being confronted by the woman who he killed is a blow to his mind and sparks a devilish plan for him to get his revenge against her. I could relate to his quest for absolution. Not only did he lose everything material he possessed, re-forging his existence through The Fallen Angel, Mara stole from him the most precious of things—his memory. To me her sins appeared unforgivable.
Mara is an incredibly strong woman and I liked her complexity and ability to stand up to a man considered to be unbeatable in the boxing ring. She never wavers, nor does she attempt to deny her atrocities, but she does attempt to get some reward in Temple’s revenge plans. Her tenacity and sheer courage made her a perfect fit for Temples cutting words and his muscled body.
The odds these two faced appeared insurmountable and I eagerly devoured each page in a mere 4 hours, desperate to see if Maclean could pull this off. The resulting conclusion is and was satisfying without the clichés or a neat and tidy ending. I always enjoy how Maclean isn’t afraid to let her characters get dirty or shed a little blood in the pursuit of their HEA or their honor. Additional points can be given to amazing dialogue, effortless ability to bring sexual tension to a scene, and 3 dimensional characters that allow you to relate to both sides of the story without an abundance of info dump.
Overall if you’ve got a Christmas Book Wish List I would suggest you make No Good Duke Goes Unpunished number 1. If in fact you haven’t taken a chance to read Maclean’s series, go buy all three stories now and get caught up because the Chase (pun intended) will be over soon.
Reviewed by Landra