One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean

Lady Phillipa Marbury is to be married in fifteen short days and with her inquisitive, scientific mind she wonders about some of the logistics of the marriage bed.  Doing her research, she determines that Cross, one of the owners of London's most notorious gaming hells, is the perfect person to help her with her questions.  To help with her ruination.  Unfortunately, Cross finds this a horrible idea and tries to usher her out before anyone sees her (she is, after all, sister-in-law to one of his partners) but Pippa has questions that require answering and is not easily deterred and she makes Cross feel, feel more than he has in seven years...ever since his brother died and his life got turned upside down in an instant.  He has regret and determination to avoid the past but that past has come back and now he is determined to change it.  And to change it he must keep Pippa away, keep these feelings buried.  The attraction burns as do the promises of what is to be discovered together.  Can Pippa discover that the heart is more than just an organ and will Cross let his wall down?

 Oh Sarah MacLean.  I adore your books.  Just adore them and I adored this couple you created.  Pippa is bespectacled, odd...more interested in scientific experiments than the latest fashions and her frank nature appeals to Cross very much.  Cross has tried to bury his past, so much so that Pippa does not even know his true identity, and it has shaped him into the man he is today...a man who thinks he does not deserve happiness.  The pull and tug between this couple was such a treat to read and their conversations charmed me to no end.  I really enjoyed how this book focused mostly on Pippa and Cross but their is an underlining tension brought by Cross' past that added quite a flair at the end that I really enjoyed.  It really was a perfect ending for this story (though I did want to smack Cross at the end for a bit until he finally came to his senses).  One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is a sensual, heart breaking romance that is also fun, smart and sexy.  I loved it and can not wait for Temple's story now.  5 stars

eARC provided by Avon via edelweiss

The Rules of Scoundrels
Could be read as stand alones, best enjoyed in order because they are wonderful!

No Good Duke Goes Unpunished  August 27th