No Good Duke Goes Unpunished: The Third Rule of Scoundrels (Rules of Scoundrels, 3) Mass Market Paperback – November 26, 2013

NO GOOD DUKE GOES UNPUNISHED is the third book in Sarah MacLean’s Rules of Scoundrels series. It is the story of Temple, known as the Killer Duke, one of the four partners in the Fallen Angels gaming hell. As with all of The Rules of Scoundrels series, the story begins with Temple’s “fall” from grace. Temple’s fall occurred twelve years ago when he awoke in the bed of his future stepmother covered in blood. Temple does not know what happened. While no body is found, but Mara Lowe has disappeared so Temple is believed guilty – even by Temple.Mara Lowe is not dead. She was 16 when she was to marry Temple’s father (she was to be Temple’s fourth stepmother). Twelve years later, she returns because her younger brother, Christopher Lowe, has gotten into debt at the partners gaming hell and she wishes to save him and recover her money that Christopher has lost.The first scene between Mara and Temple is really great. It isn’t a spoiler to state that Temple is a bit annoyed to discover that Mara is alive. The scenes throughout the book between the two are fantastic. Mara is a fighter and certainly a match for the boxer extraordinaire Temple. This book is a bit more plot heavy than the other books of the series and the two characters struggle against one another more. It is more of a prize fight and the reader experiences round after round of action between Temple and Mara. Without giving too much way, the two have some incredible battles in Temple’s boxing ring at the Fallen Angel!NO GOOD DUKE GOES UNPUNISHED is a dark and emotionally intense novel. Temple and Mara have a long way to go to get their HEA. Temple, a character who has accepted his fate, is now consumed with rage and a lust for vengeance. However, that desire is not natural for Temple who struggles with his desire to redeem himself and his desire for Mara.I have enjoyed all of MacLean’s novels. She is now one of my favorite writers. I find that her books are filled with incredible, individual characters. They are memorable and no two of her books are the same. I also really enjoy The Rules of Scoundrels in particular because her books are dark and filled with tension. When the HEA finally happens, I feel that I have traveled alongside the characters and rejoice with them.NO GOOD DUKE GOES UNPUNISHED is the darkest novel in the series because both characters are deeply hurt by their past. In the previous two books in the series, the heroine provided the light in the story. Here, Mara is the catalyst for the darkness in Temple’s life so their romance is much more complicated. In fact, Temple is the victim here and Mara is the one who feel unworthy. She has harmed Temple immensely in the past and continues to harm him throughout the novel. It is Temple who ultimately gives his forgiveness and acceptance to Mara.To me this book isn’t quite as good as ONE GOOD EARL DESERVERS A LOVER (the second book of the series) but that book is one of my all time favorite novels. That being said, NO GOOD DUKE GOES UNPUNISHED is at least as good as A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME and in some ways I like this more because the characters are now familiar to me. I loved the interaction with all the Scoundrels and their wives. This is the first book of the series where we really get to see all the characters together and the crisis which brings all our characters into the same room was emotional and heartbreaking. These Scoundrels are not only partners but are also a family.Finally, I give a WOW, WOW, WOW for the Epilogue. This is one book that you want to read without spoilers for the Epilogue. MacLean reveals a big secret about Chase, whose book is the next in the series. My mouth dropped when I read the reveal and I had to read it twice to believe what I was reading. I think that the Reader who does not peek at the ending will get a really great surprise and I can’t wait for Chase’s book.NO GOOD DUKE DOES UNPUNISHED continues a fantastic series by Sarah MacLean. A reader doesn’t have to read the other books of the series before reading this one, but honestly, this book is more enjoyable if you have already encountered Temple. Start with A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME and then continue with ONE GOOD EARL DESERVES A LOVER (my favorite of the series) before reading this book. Temple is important in both those novels and a reader will have a better idea of his relationship with the other Scoundrels and their wives.I give this book a 5 plus stars! I only give this rating to books that I love the first time I read them but that are also ones that I will re-read. I’ve already read this one three times and I expect that I will read it again and again.

Sarah MacLean has quickly risen to become one of my favorite romance authors. Her characters are layered and nuanced with the right amount of wit and strength. The stories are entertaining without falling into the trap of melodrama. I have enjoyed every book I have read written by her, and this third book in The Rules of Scoundrels series did not disappoint me. This is Temple's story, the Killer Duke, a man who is feared and avoided by everyone. It is believed that he killed the future wife of his father twelve years earlier. Although no body was found, the suspicion was enough to get him banished by his father and all of London society. Eventually he became a partner in The Fallen Angel, the man who fights all those who hope to regain their gambling losses through a boxing match in the club ring. He never loses. Never.But then one night he meets a challenge in the person of Mara Lowe, the woman who he supposedly killed all those years earlier. She needs him to forgive the debt her idiot brother accrued, taking away not only of their family's inheritance, but more importantly, the funds that run her home for boys. It would make perfect sense for Temple to just grab her and have her reveal herself to the public, ending his years of shame. But for some reason these two decide to play this long, drawn out game where each is somehow fighting for the upper hand against the other. Why? It made little sense to me. I couldn't see how Mara had any upper hand in this battle. She lied. Her actions led to twelve years of difficulties for Temple. How did she have the right to ask for anything from him? This situation was the one thing that kept this from being a five star book for me. I just couldn't forgive Mara for her actions so easily. If I were in Temple's shoes I would have been out for blood for all the things she tore from him through her lies. Somehow Temple is able to be forgiving enough and patient enough to eventually find a way to fall in love with her. But every time she would do something to further hurt this man I got extremely irritated with her as a character. And this happens a lot. Erg! There is one point in the book where Temple finally loses it and humiliates Mara in the ring. This scene was not an easy one to read. Although I was no fan of Mara's I could barely stomach what Temple did to her as he left her there. It wasn't a pretty moment for this story. Luckily there were enough good actions by Temple to offset that one crummy one. These are the types of scenes that kept me from absolutely adoring the story.But, having said that, this is still a very enjoyable book. I love the characters of The Fallen Angel. Every time Cross or Bourne or Chase was involved in a scene the book was richer. I guessed the big secret about Chase in the last book ... or at least I suspected that might be the case. Knowing who Chase is makes me all the more excited to read the next book in this series. I know I will find another wonderful story to add to this collection. This story ends with a wonderful happily ever after ... one that Temple richly deserves after all the things he struggled with over the past twelve years. And one sign of Sarah MacLean's talent as a writer ... by the end of the book I was rooting for Mara as well, and I was happy to see her find the happiness she deserved equally. Four stars!

Really enjoying these books, I literally cannot put them down! An epic tale and an epic love story. Loved it.

vous aimerez Sarah MacLean. De la romance XIXième bien menée qui sait jouer des clichés pour proposer un vrai bon moment de lecture

I had frankly not expected much of this book. Downloaded the sample before traveling, and opened to read it in fear that i would probably finish my other (whole downloaded) books before finishing my travel period.And yet so captivated was i by the characters before the second chapter begins, that no sooner had my plane landed and my 3G network started working, did i buy this off Kindle.Lovely book. The story premise is pretty much like many others - painful past turns H inhuman, bang comes in the lady who caused all that pain, and a revenge tale begins while attraction simmers between the two. And wow what an attraction!Of course none of the other stories I have read (of which i have read many) before have ever had the H been deceived by the h in the way he is in this book, and that's the masterstroke. How can a man accept and be expected to forgive a woman whose death (by his hands as he thinks) has tortured him all those many years. This H does. It takes him time, a lot of time and a realization of a strong love but he does forgive her.Though i enjoyed the h's character equally, she is strong, can hold her own against the H, and has a strong survival streak - The one thing that did put me off was her reason for such drastic measures, it was confounding to think anyone could let someone suffer to the levels H obviously had without owning for her mistakes. In fact had her miscreant of a brother not ruined her financial stability, i doubt she would have ever faced the duke at all. That was one flaw in her character i could not forgive. Moreover, for most of the book, she has this tender for her brother which i felt was totally misplaced.Given that one major put-off, the other aspects of the book were quite good, and i thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

As the other books of the serie it was intriguing. I enjoyed it very much. I'm going to read the sequel, Never Judge A Lady By Her Cover....

Tears and smiles!! That's how I judge a good read.... and even with it being an emotional subject...it was amazing! What a flawless story! I have devoured Sarah MacLean's books. Love each story, and can't wait for the next....Chase 's story!!!!!