Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover

Starred review from October 27, 2014
MacLean's fourth and final Scoundrels historical (after No Good Duke Goes Unpunished) proves that romance can happen in the most unusual circumstances. In 1830s England, Lady Georgiana Pearson, a duke's sister, has been forced to reinvent herself after being ruined by a stable boy. She is respectable Georgiana by day, but by night, she has not one but two secret identities: Anna, the most powerful madam in London, and Chase, Anna's crafty business partner, who's widely believed to be a man. Georgiana is determined to marry a titled gentleman, and newspaper magnate Duncan West agrees to help her seal the deal. But Duncan is drawn to Georgiana himself, and she to him. Soon they form an intimate connection, with many deep emotional developments that propel the story. Though they eventually decide to act on their attraction, they struggle with the knowledge that they can never wed; Duncan fears the revelation of buried secrets that could destroy him, and Georgiana believes that only a title can help her daughter escape the stain of bastardy. Series readers will be blown away by the revelation of Chase's identity, and will cheer on Duncan and Georgiana as they bring their complex relationship to a riveting conclusion. Agent: Steve Axelrod, Axelrod Agency.

March 1, 2015

Georgiana has always exploited society's secrets and kept her own, but when she decides she must wed to give her illegitimate daughter a chance at a different life, she turns to newspaperman Duncan West for help. Although there are rewards for longtime readers of MacLean's historical romance series, this could easily be enjoyed by anyone who loves watching a woman succeed despite the restrictions of her gender. (LJ 12/14)

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2014

Ruined as a girl and tarred by the resulting scandal, nobly born unwed mother Lady Georgiana Pearson will do anything to assure her young daughter's happiness--even if it takes returning to society after ten years and marrying for status, not love. But Georgiana is more than she appears to be. Behind the elegant exterior lives a clever, determined woman who's carved out a secret, dangerous life--a life that gives her enormous power over the ton but could crumble if the truth was ever revealed. When ruthless, perceptive newspaper owner Duncan West enters her sphere, things take a far more dicey and ultimately passionate turn. Sharp wit, flashes of humor, long-simmering fury, and a wealth of well-drawn characters add depth to this superbly rendered tale that deftly addresses social, class, and women's issues while delivering a stunning romance. VERDICT Brilliant, seductive, and intensely engaging, this addictive story pairs powerful, driven protagonists with a seemingly unsolvable dilemma in an ingenious, wonderfully satisfying conclusion to MacLean's remarkable quartet. Although this book is complete in itself, fans will be well rewarded by reading the entire series in order. MacLean (No Good Duke Goes Unpunished) lives in New York City. [An LJ 2014 Best Romance; see p. 30.]

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.