Sarah MacLean

RITA® Award-winning author Sarah MacLean reveals the identity of The Fallen Angel's final scoundrel in the spectacular conclusion to her New York Times bestselling Rules of Scoundrels series . . . 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.

The Fourth Rule of Scoundrels

Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover

Lover of Romance 

I received A ARC copy in exchange for a honest review, 
Never Judge A Lady Be Her Cover, is Chase's story, the one I have definitely been waiting on since this series first started. I have adored Sarah Maclean since her first book came out, which wasn't that long ago. And to this day I still have sweet memories of reading Nine Rules. In the previous three books of the serious, we have had some powerful romances done, but you see Chase and her strength, and I totally think that this last and final installment is the best book of the series. I don't even know why I enjoyed this one more than the others (and I enjoyed those quite a bit), but there was such a connection between Georgiana and Duncan, a connection that has always been there, but never acted upon until now.

The main focus of the story, is on Lady Georgiana, also known as owner and founder of London's famous gaming hell. Georgiana was once as a young girl, fell in love, abandoned, found herself pregnant and forced out by her family. She decided to make a name for herself, and get her revenge on those that scorn her, but knowing their secrets. Georgiana has a daughter, Caroline, who is a precocious nine year old, charming and sweet and doesn't let rumors get her down. Georgiana is determined to marry a man that is titled and give her daughter a future that they won't have without the protection of it. After seeing her partners and closest friends find love with their wives, she knows that her daughter comes first, and that she may never find love again. But then enters the hero of the story, Duncan, who is just as determined to uncover all of her secrets, including the real identity of Chase and setting Georgiana free from his "clutches".

The set up of the story is quite humorous, and trust me when I tell you that the moment you start reading you will find it near impossible to set this one down. It will worm its way slowly into your heart and refuse to let go until you finish it. I have to say that Sarah Maclean has outdone herself once again!!! But I am far from surprised, only delighted that every time she writes she only gets better and wins my heart every time! 

Duncan is one powerful male....I just get tingles thinking about his character. He has his own power just as Georgiana does. He owns and runs a newspaper with all the latest gossip, that anyone that is anyone in London reads and devours...he has the power to redeem or ruin. He is intrigued with Georgiana, and is fascinated by her, and can't deny needing her. At first he just wants to bed her, because she is lovely and spirited, but there is so much more to her and he wants to uncover every layer one inch at a time. I loved seeing his slow pursuit of her, and seeing how sparks ignite and the connection they have starts to build. The heroine....well I just adored her character. She is strong and has a tough cover, but Duncan gets beneath her skin. It was quite a hoot to see these two get along and work through the rough spots and secrets that they keep from each other.

A charming romance with a plot that will leaving you breathless at the end. A story that is original, lively and amusing with each page turn. Buckle your seats, boys and girls, because this story will give you the most delicious ride....with depth and pleasure. INCOMPARABLE!!

Annabella

Connor 

DEAR LORD, THE BANTER. I do love a book with two wickedly sharp protagonists.

Magda Silva

After rereading this book for like the thrid time, I still love it. The ending is a little meh, it tends to get worse re-read after re-read. But I still love Chase and Duncan but Caroline is absolutely amazing. What that girl does and how she is! Well done Sarah. Not my favorite in the series but for sure one of my favorites from Sarah Maclean

Kate

2.5 - could have been so much better than it was! It wasn't bad though - I tend to follow the Goodreads scale for ratings, hence "it was ok"

Amanda J 

The unveiling of Chase. Not my fav hero or story. But enjoyed so much for how it concluded the series

Renee Delcourt

Oh man. I really really enjoyed this book! I think this was my favorite out of the series. I love how incredibly strong and determined Georgiana is and how much she would sacrifice for the people she loves. West was a lot of fun to follow and I loved learning his back story.

I am so sad to be done with the Fallen Angel and her players. I hope to revisit them all again soon.

b.andherbooks

I joined the hosts of #SummerofSarahMacLean to gush about my favorite romance novel! You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/tv-BWjfET-0

I credit Lady Georgiana, bad ass in her pants, for launching me into a public romance reader. Before this I was embarrassed, because you know, the patriarchy. Thank goodness for Lady G. I finally listened to the audio version during the pandemic in 2020 as a comfort listen, and I'm so glad I did. MacLean is an exquisite writer, and so many of her sentences are meant to be heard out loud. And wow give me all your sexy poolside oral scenes and your quick, jealous desk bangs, and your *this is the last time give me your all* finally in a bed bangs. 

Might be my favorite romance novel? If I can even claim such a thing? I just love it so much. It is also a perfect series ender, the big Chase reveal is perfectly done, and the end? With the jumping from gaming table to gaming table for our lovers to get to each other for one last time? PERFECT.

Yup, just gave five stars to a paperback romance. Loved it. When I saw the lady with pants on this cover, I had to read.

Honestly, I'm pretty blown away by what most would simply see as a trashy mass market paperback. It is tragic, sexy, and very well written. It is also breaks a lot of the tropes commonly associated with these type of books. 

The titular lady is Georgiana, ruined by scandal at the tender age of 16. She had sex with her first 'love' once, got pregnant, and was subsequently outcast from society along with her daughter. Cut to ten years later, and the reader finds out Georgiana is ALSO both Anna AND Chase (seen and discussed in the other books of this series). Anna is a "whore" and the messenger for the all powerful owner of the Fallen Angel Club - Chase - whom everyone believes is a man. Georgiana has kept up this charade with the other owners (all male and seen in the previous books) but is now realizing she may in fact need to marry to give her daughter a title and a chance at a better life.

Georgiana renters society, while still masquerading as Anna and managing the club as Chase. A fancy newspaper man Duncan West who has fed secrets to "Chase" and "Anna" meets Georgiana and soon puts the pieces together regarding her tie to "Anna" (but not Chase). Georgiana and he fall for each other, but their secrets and honor do not make it an easy road. West doesn't have a title, he believes Georgiana is trapped as Chase's mistress, and numerous other problems keep the story moving forward and lead to much sexy angst and sexy times (see swimming pool scene). I did get a bit confused at the many different character names for each person, and feel like I should go back and read the other books in the series now.

Honestly, I was pretty riveted and this book was exactly what I needed at this moment in life.

Go Sarah MacLean!

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads
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This story was a long time in the making and I couldn't have been more excited to begin it. Once I realized Chase's true identity, I couldn't wait to find out what drove Georgiana to assume this identity and become one of the most powerful "men" in London. 

Duncan and Georgiana couldn't have been more perfectly matched. The nosy scandal sheet reporter meets the woman with not one, but TWO secret identities. I just knew I was in for a great book with tons of secrets, lies and manipulations. And I was. But I also got a wonderful romance and tons of heart, too. There was a lot happening in this book and I won't dare spoil it all for you because the way it all comes together is perfection. I couldn't have asked for a better conclusion to this story and an answer to all my questions about Georgiana. 

So, yes, I loved this book and this entire series. (And the Love by Numbers series that started it all.) The characters are complicated, but lovable in their own way. Not only are readers treated to great romance, but they can expect great character growth, too. After finishing this series, I've elevated Sarah to "auto-buy" status and know I can count on her to give me a great story each and every time.

Lacey

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

4.5 STARS

Chase!! We finally get Chase’s book! It’s been a long time coming – this book was one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year and it. was. AMAZING! I utterly adore the Rules of Scoundrels series. It truly is my all-time favorite historical romance series. Sarah MacLean writes characters like no other. Every time I open one of her books, I’m completely absorbed and invested in every page. I’ve reread this series countless times, and I know I’ll pick up these books again.

Ever since I read A Rogue by Any Other Name, Chase has held my intrigue. As the founder of The Fallen Angel, Chase is powerful yet mysterious. But now in Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover, we finally get to uncover Chase’s secrets. (And Sarah MacLean seriously knows how to surprise her readers.)

If you have NOT read No Good Duke Goes Unpunished yet, PLEASE don’t read on. There will be a GIANT SPOILER for Never Judge a Lady!! TRUST ME, you don’t want to be spoiled. I can honestly say that I’ve never been so shocked and surprised by book as I have for No Good Duke… for this whole series!

Because… Chase is a woman. Chase is in fact, Lady Georgiana Pearson, daughter of a duke. My reaction? …Hell yes!! Girl power for the win. I do admit I felt a slight disappointment that Chase wasn’t a man because I had imagined Chase to be the best of all four men. But I got over it pretty quickly. Because guess what? Georgiana is one hell of a woman. She’s tough, loyal, and so protective over those she cares about.

Temple’s black brows rose. “It never fails to surprise me just how ruthless you can be.”
She smiled her sweetest smile at him. “Never trust a woman.”
He laughed. “Not you, at least.”

Now, the hero? He had to be someone intelligent, someone who could keep up with Chase, with Georgiana, step by step. And Duncan West was really the perfect man for her. Duncan and Georgiana have a fiery chemistry between, but there’s also an intense, sexy battle of wits. They’ve never been stronger or more vulnerable than they have when they’re together. I loved seeing them fall for each other, these two fiercely independent people falling when they least expected it.

And yes, this book is HOT. Georgiana and Duncan (oh god, DUNCAN) were ON FIRE in this book. Never Judge a Lady is the hottest book of the series, in my opinion. It was that burn, that tension between the characters when they wanted but couldn’t have each other. And I never expected it, but oh my word, Duncan is truly a scoundrel in this book. Loooved the sexy times in the book.

“Would you like that?” he whispered, “Would you like it if I took control of your pleasure? If I wrapped you in it? If I gave it to you over and over, until you could not bear it? Until you ached for my touch about all others?”

(Do you see!? Duncan had me burning up while I was reading!)

Unfortunately, as Chase cannot be revealed as a woman, secrets and lies build up. Georgiana and Duncan belong together, but their lies threaten to tear them apart. They can’t love each other, but they fall so hard anyway. I’m going to keep hush hush about the plot – Chase being a woman is only one of many secrets. What I will say is that there was never a dull moment in this book. I pretty much devoured this book as soon as I got it. I honestly couldn’t be happier with Chase’s book. I loved it!

4.5 stars! Cross will always be my favorite of the four, but Chase’s is a close second. Because – Duncan! Georgiana! Epicness!

Quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change in the final version.

Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.

Amazon Ebook: http://amzn.to/RGntqq
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/JQj1kL



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Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover The Fourth Rule of Scoundrels

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