Historical Romance Review: Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean
Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover by Sarah MacLean (The Rules of Scoundrels #4)
bought
Synopsis from Goodreads
She is the most powerful woman in Britain,
A queen of the London Underworld ...
But no one can ever know.
He is the only man smart enough to uncover the truth,
Putting all she has at risk . . .
Including her heart.
The fourth book in New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean’s incredible Rule of Scoundrels/Fallen Angels series. These four dark heroes will steal the hearts of their heroines and the readers alike! This is the last in the Rules of Scoundrels series—Chase’s story
By day, she is Lady Georgiana, sister to a Duke, ruined before her first season in the worst kind of scandal. But the truth is far more shocking—in London’s darkest corners, she is Chase, the mysterious, unknown founder of the city’s most legendary gaming hell. For years, her double identity has gone undiscovered . . . until now.
Brilliant, driven, handsome-as-sin Duncan West is intrigued by the beautiful, ruined woman who is somehow connected to a world of darkness and sin. He knows she is more than she seems and he vows to uncover all of Georgiana’s secrets, laying bare her past, threatening her present, and risking all she holds dear . . . including her heart.
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8/10
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Can I say that I liked it and disliked some aspects of it at the same time? It's been awhile since I read Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover, and two things I remember most from it are Duncan's lovely indoor pool under a glass dome, and Georgiana's clever and wonderful daughter.Sadly, because the author teased us so much during the previous books with Chase's identity, I was expecting something really grand, so the reality was a bit underwhelming. Why? I felt that Chase did not utilise everything she could to solve her dilemma and her solution for the problem she was facing was rather too conventional for such an extraordinary lady.
Duncan himself felt rather a weak character. I don't want to get into any spoilers but considering how pitiful his secret was and how many powerful allies he had, including Chase, I couldn't understand his silence and his willingness to help the villain.
Georgiana and Duncan might have been well suited for each other, but Chase and Duncan? No way. He wouldn't measure up to her. *grinning* Which is probably why I could not like this book as much as other people. It's very well written, and there are some truly wonderful empowering moments in it, but hell, I felt a little bit disappointed in character portayal. I was expecting more.
All that emotional blackmail from Duncan who was trying to press Georgiana to betray herself, because *gasp* they had sex! He must be her lord and master now. All that possessiveness... Let's just say, I really wanted to smack some sense into him.
Overall, recommended with some deep reservations. Sarah Maclean is a great romance author, but this wasn't my favorite read by her.
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В общем-то, я была немного разочарована в этой книге. Чейз настолько увлекательный персонаж, что после нескольких книг в этой серии, я ожидала, что её история любви окажется экстраординарной.Однако проблема, с которой столкнулась Джорджиана, и её решение меня удивили своим традиционализмом. Со всеми своими деньгами, со всеми своими связями и властью, единственное, что ей помогло бы это замужество? Ну не верю я в это! В итоге саркастичный гений Чейза оказался практически неиспользован.
Не помогло также то, что как только Чейз превращался в Джорджиану она теряла всю свою харизму и превращалась в очередную дебютантку.
Что касается Дункана Уэста, то он мне вообще не понравился. Газетный магнат со связями и деньгами, он не мог избавится от шантажиста, который угрожал раскрыть небольшой секрет его детства, который по-моему мнению не был так уж ужасен. Единственным плюсом Дункана оказался его крытый бассейн в центре Лондона. Очень экзотично!
Он также вёл себя по-свински по отношению к Джорджиане. Ну да, они переспали друг с другом, и почему-то сразу же он решил. что у него какие-то права на неё, и то ей стоит бросить всю свою жизнь, предать своих друзей и быть только с ним. Мне хотелась залепить ему хорошую пощёчину и я не понимала почему Джорджиана вообще с ним возилась.
В общем, да серия неплохая. Да, Сара МакЛеан - хороший автор историческиго романа. Но эта книга не самаю любимая от неё. Рекомендую, но очень сдержанно.
