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 such unexplored pleasures.
Bourne may be a prince of London’s 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
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 such unexplored pleasures.
Bourne may be a prince of London’s 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
Paperback, 386 pages
Published by Piatkus Books (first published February 28th 2012)
Penelope Marbury is unwed at the age of 28, which means nothing these days but meant everything back in the 1800's. She is considered a spinster, she was engaged to a Duke, but she called off the engagement because he was in love with someone else. Which resulted in a scandal, which followed her around for years to come.
Tommy & Michael (Bourne) were Peneople's childhood best-friends, they done everything together. When Michael was 21 he lost everything he owned, all his inheritance in a card game to Tommy's father. He fled never coming back vowing revenge. Leaving Penelope missing an thinking about him for a long time. Tommy stays in Penelope's live though, like a brother more than anything else.
Years later, Penelope's father wins Falconwell (Michaels home & land). He adds the land to Penelope's dowry, to help her secure a husband.
Michael has reinvented himself from the night he lost everything, he has managed to build himself back up from nothing. He owns a gaming hell, a seedy club where everyone goes to gamble and loose all their money. When the news reached him that Falconwell has been added to Lady Penelope's dowry, he sees his opportunity to get his home back. He sets out to secure Penelope as his wife, not caring that he forces her hand or that he will ruin her in the process of his revenge.
Penelope just wants a normal marriage. She wants to be loved and most of all she wants adventure, something more out of life. She has no hopes with the ruthless stubborn man that is Bourne, not the Michael she used to know as a boy at all.
Well I'm not going to spoil the story for everyone, even though I could happily ramble on all day about this amazing book.
This story is engaging from start to finish. It has a wonderful outcome and an epilogue that has left me begging for the next in the series. There are so many fantastic characters throughout this book, like Bourne's partners in the gaming club and Penelope's sisters. But my favourite characters are the main ones, Penelope and Michael.
Penelope - Is a proper lady, perfect and polite, but underneath all that is proper is an incredibly strong, fierce woman who knows what she wants out of life and in the end is not afraid to do what she needs to to get it.
Bourne - Is devastatingly handsome and he knows it. He is cold, hard, ruthless and definitely not a gentleman, nor would you want him to be. He undergoes such a transformation and I am so happy he did because I could of slapped him sometimes for being so stubborn and holding back.
Put this amazing book on your MUST-read list today, you will certainly not be disappointed.
Special thanks to Piatkus for the review copy.
A 5 Star Read.
Carly :)
Thank you for posting such an amazing review. I love the U.K. cover. It's a lot more sedate than the USA cover. I'm looking forward to reading this book.
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