Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart audiobook

Reread/listened to the audiobook May'2022:I really enjoyed this, but Juliana and Simon also frustrated me at times. So it's still a great 5 star romance, but I didn't quite adore it as much as the first time I read it. Original rating/review April'2011:5+ stars – Historical/Regency RomanceEleven Ways to Adore the Book That Made Me Want MoreEleven Ways to Admire a Heroine With Such FireEleven Ways to Croon Over the Duke Who Made Me SwoonEleven Ways to Rave Over a Heroine Most BraveEleven Ways to Gush About My Latest CrushEleven Ways to Be Naughty to Tempt a Duke Who’s HaughtyOkay...there’s no way I can come up with eleven of those, but you get the jest.There just aren’t enough words or ways to convey how much I loved this book. I had very high expectations, and I’m thrilled to say that it left a big happy satisfied smile on my face. I love ‘opposites attract’ stories and the romance between passionate, feisty, spitfire Juliana and the haughty, proper, disdainful Duke of Leighton was pure combustible magic! Juliana Fiori is a fiery Italian miss who longs to break free of the stifling rules and cutting gossip of the ton and the unfeeling, stuffy, arrogant Duke of Leighton represents everything she loathes about English society and propriety. Scandalous Juliana is bold, brash, reckless, expressive, outspoken, and deeply passionate...everything that the Duke of Leighton wants desperately to avoid. With a family legacy to uphold and shocking secrets to protect, Leighton values his prestigious title, sterling reputation, and impeccable position in society above all else. So his intense attraction to Juliana is unbearable and unwanted. Leighton’s scorn makes Juliana seethe with frustration and hurt, and she’s determined to prove to him that passion is more powerful than the Duke’s status and rules of decorum. Juliana is the perfect match that ignites the banked fire inside Simon, and their volatile connection threatens to shatter the Duke of Disdain’s staunchly guarded control. It’s a wonderful, engaging, emotional, utterly enjoyable, and unforgettable romance with witty dialogue, hot sexual tension, the perfect combination of drama and humor, a lovable, brave yet vulnerable heroine, and a sexy hero whose aloof, haughty veneer masks a passionate man. I loved it just as much, if not more than, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake. It’s a definite keeper worthy of very big 5 stars! I really hope this isn’t the last book of the series because Benedick and Georgiana need their own stories and HEAs.Juliana (Italian actress Monica Bellucci) Simon (Model Gabriel Aubry)

yeah, i like it. :)

4 stars “Some things are more powerful than scandal, Simon.” A heroine who is a walking scandal in everyone’s eyes. A scandalous bomb that is bound to explode anytime. A hero who is named as the “Duke of disdain” because of how he always looks down on everyone and all he cares about is his reputation. A love story between a cold-hearted logical hero and a very passionate heroine. Then there’s Me here just reading and enjoying all the back and forth, push and pull, and the hopeless resistance.This series has been so entertaining starting from the witty dialogue to the funny banter and the lovable characters. I think book one is still my favourite because I just really love that couple. And as much as I loved this book I felt like slapping Simon at times. He could be really frustrating. But overall this was such a fun entertaining series. #1 Nine rules to break when romancing a rake ~ 4.25 stars#2 Ten ways to be adored when landing a lord ~ 3.5 stars#3 Eleven scandals to start to win a duke’s heart ~ 4 stars

4.5 StarsI was so excited for Juliana's book when we met her in the first book. She's trying to integrate into society, but her mother's scandal follows her everywhere and she doesn't seem to care what English people think of her. Simon, on the other hand, is a duke who must marry well to save his family's reputation from a scandal that will leak any day. Juliana and Simon have immediate chemistry, but Juliana is the kind of person Simon can't associate with if he wants to save his family. I really enjoyed Simon and Juliana's banter and dancing around each other. Neither one feels good enough for the other and Simon is actively trying to marry someone suitable to fix his family's reputation. I really loved Simon and Juliana's attraction and how they just couldn't stay away from each other. I also loved how Simon was really a softy and just wanted the best for his family. I do think this book went on a little too long and the story was dragged out by the end, but I enjoyed watching two people evaluate what they want out of life and risk everything for love.

5 STARS "It seems you are not so immune to passion as you think, Your Grace." Holy cow! This was my favorite of the series. I cannot tell you how much I love Sarah MacLean's writing. Her characters. Her witty dialogue. Her sexy as sin heroes. And most of all her fabulous heroines. There was nothing about this book I didn't love.

6 stars!!!! After reading Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rakeand Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord I was excited to hear about the third book in Sarah MacLean’s “Love By Numbers” series called “Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart” and man was I totally blown away by this awesome romance novel! Full of excitement, forbidden pleasures and pure love making scenes, this novel will definitely stand the test of time!Juliana Fiori, the Italian half sister of Nick and Gabriel Ralston, is a strong and independent woman who refuses to follow the strict rules of London society and therefore has become a huge topic of gossip for all the gossipmongers of London. Things get even more complicated when Juliana meets up with the disdainful Duke of Leighton, Simon Pearson and she eventually tries to prove to the duke about what true passion is all about!After reading the second book, Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord, I will admit that I was a little skeptical in reading the third of the “Love by Numbers” series, but after seeing my friends’ reviews on this book and how many positive compliments I keep hearing about this book, I decided to give this book a shot anyway. Lo and behold, I found myself loving this book every second and I was a little upset that this book came to an end. Sarah MacLean has done an excellent job at writing this brilliant story about a forbidden love between two lovers who came from two different worlds, but would do anything to be together! What I really loved about Sarah MacLean’s writing is how she develops the characters in this book and my favorite characters out of this entire book would have to be the main couple Juliana Fiori and Simon Pearson, along with some returning characters that I had previously loved in previous books! At this point, Juliana Fiori is my absolute favorite heroine in any historical romance novel! I just loved the way that Juliana stood up for what she believed in, even when society is against her and I really loved how devoted she was to having passion in her life, especially when it concerns Simon Pearson, which I will now get to! Simon Pearson, the Duke of Leighton, was first introduced in the second book of the “Love by Numbers” series and at first, I did not like him because of his arrogant and disdainful nature, but after I read this book, I really came to love Simon! What I really loved about Simon is that he always get so tongued tied whenever he is around Juliana and when he is being romantic around Juliana, whew he is something else entirely! I also loved that fact that he is described as being muscular and large, which really got my hero senses tingling and after I heard of Simon’s tragic story about how he had to keep up with society’s expectations of him, it truly showed a caring side to Simon that we were never exposed to before. I loved how Sarah MacLean brought back some of the older characters shown in previous books which includes Gabriel and Nick Ralston, Callie, and Isabel and it was nice seeing them with their loved ones and enjoying each other’s company. I also loved the plot of the story as it sort of has a “Romeo and Juliet” feel since Juliana and Simon are held back from seeing each other because of their families and how they tried to get back together despite all the consequences they would suffer if they remained together and let us not forget the love making scenes between Juliana and Simon as they are hot and sizzling and will set your soul on fire!For those of you who do not like sex scenes, there are plenty of sex scenes in this book, so it would be best to skim over these scenes.Overall out of all the books I have read in Sarah MacLean’s popular “Love by Numbers” series, “Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke’s Heart” is my absolute favorite and I definitely think that romance novel fans will definitely get a huge kick out of this book! Also, I hope that there is a fourth book in the series, because I want to see what becomes of Georgiana and Callie’s brother!Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

This felt fresh and new for Sarah MacLean compared to the previous 2 in the series, and it definitely feels like a turning point for her style to evolve from here. It took me a bit to get invested in the romance but once I did I really enjoyed it.

4,5

5+++ Stars!A fabulous ending to a magnificent series!! This book was beyond enjoyable, I could not put it down. Great characters and the plot is solid. Leighton and Juliana are one of a kind characters. I was sad when it ended. This is what an historical romance is all about! I wish I could give it 10 stars! I'm hard to please when it comes to historical novels so if I say its a good book its a good one indeed.