In the novel, Michael Lawler and Penelope Marbury are childhood friends who correspond after Michael leaves for Eton. Many letters are provided as introductions to each chapter, giving the reader a deeper understanding of what the characters were going through during that time. Michael’s parents die and he becomes the Marquess of Bourne, and later he loses the entirety of the marquessate’s unentailed holdings to a man named Langford in one hand of blackjack (vingt-et-un), leaving him with a cold and empty manor house. He vows to get his properties back and his revenge on Langford.
Penelope has suffered her share of heartache, as
well, being jilted by her fiancée, the Duke of Leighton, then later having no
success in finding a suitable husband amidst the disparaging gossip of the ton.
At twenty-eight, she feels firmly established as a spinster and gives up
hope of finding a husband until her father forces her to do so in order to
salvage her younger sisters’ chances at matrimony. Her father wins the land around Michael’s
manor house from Langford in a card game and attaches it Penelope’s dowry,
assuring her of many proposals to come.
Michael and Penelope meet, in a way by chance, and he abducts her
holds her hostage in his manor house so that she will be forced to marry him. The deed is done, and the two have to figure
out how to be married before either or both of them is destroyed or runs mad.
I must say that I liked this book the first time I read it,
but a staggering revelation at the
end of No Good Duke Goes Unpunished (The Third Rule of Scoundrels) made me decide
to re-read all the books a second time. Now
I will say that I really liked this
book. I think with this series the old
adage about the whole being greater than the sum of its parts is true. My enjoyment of the first book in the series
was increased exponentially when considered in light of books two and
three. Now I am eagerly awaiting book
four!
The pace of the novel is great; there is always something
happening to move the plot forward, and there are no superfluous scenes. I really liked how the reader is given the backstory
of Michael and Penelope’s friendship through their letters – much more
interesting than heavy narration and occasionally even adds some comedic relief
to an otherwise heart-breaking relationship history. To wit, when the declarations of love are spoken, the reader
can more easily accept the feelings as having depth and duration. The development of the romantic relationship
is believable. It is also on the graphic
side, so appropriate for adults only.
The plotline is simple, but not mind-numbingly so, and the other owners of Michael's gaming establishment, The Fallen Angel, provide excellent depth to the plot. Character development is also well done. Narration mixed with direct communication of
the characters’ thoughts show how the character come to think the way they do
and how their motivations and reasoning changes.
This series is a must read.
