Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord (Love By Number, #2) by Sarah MacLean

Nov 02, 2010 Laura the Highland Hussy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was so excited for this book. So much so, that I searched 4 stores yesterday with my 3 year old to find it a day early. I read it overnight...got hardly any sleep, which as any of you with small children know, is never fun, and it was all worth it!

This book was fabulous.

At the beginning of each chapter is a small bit from the ladies' magazine "Pearls and Pelisses," which has decided that a series of articles is in order on How to Land a Lord. Lord Nicholas St. John is given the distinct honor...more

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Nov 04, 2010 Shawna rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of steamy, fun historical romance

Shelves: historical-romance, historical-romance-regency, sarah-maclean, brothers-sisters-cousins-family, kindle, archaeology-antiquities-scholar, hero-gentleman, heroine-kickass-spirited-strong, heroine-naïve-virgin-like-a-virgin, heroine-odd-spinster-wallflower, heroine-tomboy-lady-in-pants, heroine-disguises-as-a-man, heroine-abused-traumatic-past-rape, hh-disfigured-injured-scarred-ill, hh-social-class-wealth-matters, humorous-at-times-or-fluffy-fun, i-read-kindle, i-read-own-faves-keepers, 2010-reads, enemies-to-lovers-opposites-attract, favorite-love-scenes, hero-abused-scarred-tortured-angst, hero-alpha‎, hero-addict-excon-lawtrouble-thief, hero-attractive-handsome-heartthrob, hero-bad-boy-playboy, hero-darcy-paragon-haughty-staid, hero-expert-skilled-voracious-lover, hero-or-heroine-exotic, hh-aristocracy-nobility-royalty, hero-stalk-me-baby-possessive, hero-stud-mantel-hall-of-fame, heroine-bluestocking-unconventional, heroine-i-adore, heroine-i-wanna-bitch-slap-annoying, made-me-cry, married-couples-married-convenience, revenge-deception-secrets-lies, satisfying-secondary-romance, series-love-by-numbers-ralstons, 4-to-5-stars, best-wittiest-banter-dialogue

4 ½ stars – Historical Romance

I'm feeling lazy about writing a full review, so I'll keep this somewhat brief. I absolutely adored Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, and I've been anxiously awaiting this second book by MacLean. Did it wow me? Yes and no. In all fairness, this had a lot to live up to because Nine Rules...Rake was just so damn much fun and sexy, with lovable heroine Callie and yummy as all get out hero Gabriel.

Ten Ways...Lord is fun and passionate with a great story. I lov...more

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Dec 26, 2010 Catherine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: england, historical, romance, bad-childhood, on-the-run, read-2010, series

This book was enjoyable, but it wasn't without its problems. I still have high hopes for the third book, Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart, but this one didn't thrill me the way the first book did.

Nick seemed different than he was first presented in Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake. He seemed more charming and fun there whereas in this book he felt a little flat. I was told he was interesting and sexy, but for some reason I just didn't feel it. That's not to say I disliked...more This book was enjoyable, but it wasn't without its problems. I still have high hopes for the third book, Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart, but this one didn't thrill me the way the first book did.

Nick seemed different than he was first presented in Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake. He seemed more charming and fun there whereas in this book he felt a little flat. I was told he was interesting and sexy, but for some reason I just didn't feel it. That's not to say I disliked him, I enjoyed reading about him, but that's about where it left me.

Isabel was both likable and not. Her life to date has been a hard one. She's basically been on her own since she was seventeen. Yes, she's gathered a family of friends around her, but their survival rests on her. No wonder she had such a problem leaning when Nick comes around! What happens when you trust and that person fails you? You're not the only one left to pick up the pieces when so many people depend on you.

So, Isabel's position was understandable, but it was also frustrating. It was hard for the relationship to develop because Isabel was so hot and cold toward Nick. He wasn't on the up and up at all times, but he was the one I eventually felt sorry for. Isabel could be pretty thoughtless in her determination to protect herself.

The women of the Minerva House were very intriguing. I wish we would have gotten more information on them. They weren't completely flat characters, but there wasn't a lot of depth there. It was still nice to have Isabel in charge of such a project. It's also nice to think that places like that were out there.

The Duke of Leighton was a character I was definitely intrigued by in the first book. His interactions with Juliana caught my attention and made me eager to get their book. I'm sorry to say that his popularity with me has suffered a blow. I'm still curious to get into his head, but not quite as eager.

It's unfortunate, but he was an ass toward the end of this book. It's much easier to accept his about face in affection with a stranger (as was the case with Juliana) than it was here. I won't say more than that, but I wasn't happy about it.

I'm still interested in the third book, but I'm not really hanging on the edge of my seat anymore.

(less)

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Nov 13, 2010 ♡KarLynP♡ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-historical, published-2010, read-2010, ebook, steam-warm

3.5 stars. A cute and simple regency romance, albeit a bit heavy on the predictable drama. MacLean can definitely write, it's just the story itself was kind of lackluster. It had a likable hero/heroine, but I couldn't fall in love with them or relate to their situations without questioning many of the holes in the story.

(view spoiler)...more

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Nov 05, 2010 Auntee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of Lisa Kleypas-type romance

Shelves: historical-romance, 2010_reads

After starting just a wee bit slow for me, this book took off around chapter 3, when the heroine, 24-year-old Lady Isabel Townsend

and the hero (don't know his age, just know that he was one mighty fine physical specimen), Lord Nicholas St. John,

met while he saved her from being run down in the streets by a team of horses in a small village in Yorkshire.

Lady Isabel is the daughter of the Earl of Reddich, a gambling, good-time-Charlie sorry excuse for a husband and father, thought of by Isabel...more After starting just a wee bit slow for me, this book took off around chapter 3, when the heroine, 24-year-old Lady Isabel Townsend

and the hero (don't know his age, just know that he was one mighty fine physical specimen), Lord Nicholas St. John,

met while he saved her from being run down in the streets by a team of horses in a small village in Yorkshire.

Lady Isabel is the daughter of the Earl of Reddich, a gambling, good-time-Charlie sorry excuse for a husband and father, thought of by Isabel as the "Wastrearl". The Earl had abandoned his family (a wife, Isabel, and young son) some 7 years before to live a life filled with scandal, and now that both he and his wife have died, beautiful, brave, and strong Isabel is left alone to run their sorely neglected, run down estate and to raise her young 10 year-old-brother to be the next Earl of Reddich. Since all the servants had left since Isabel could no longer afford to keep them, she opened her home as a sort of half-way house/secret haven for abused, neglected, or down-on-their luck women. So Isabel and the women look after the estate as best they can, but young James (the new Earl) does need an education and Isabel is determined to find a way to provide it. She is in possession of a number of very valuable "marbles" (statues of Greek or Roman gods) and even though she doesn't want to, if she sells these marbles the estate would have enough money for repairs and James could get the proper education a young Earl needs. Now all she needs is to have someone with some knowledge catalogue the statues and place a value on them. And who better than the noted antiquarian, Lord Nicholas St. John, who just happens to be in the area (for reasons that would shock Isabel). Nicholas (who is also well-known for his "tracking" ability) and Isabel first meet when he arrives in her small village looking for the runaway sister of a powerful Duke. He ends up saving Isabel from being run over by a team of horses, and then the story is off to the races!

Nicholas has agreed to find his friend the duke's sister not only because he's good at tracking missing people, but because it will also get him out of London. Seems that a woman's magazine has named Nicholas as 'London's Lord to Land' (sort of like the equivalent of most eligible bachelor) and Nick is getting tired of women of all types throwing themselves at him. Nick has a soft spot--he can't resist a woman in need- but since he has no interest in falling in love or getting married, he keeps his women at arm's length. But then he meets the beautiful and intriguing Lady Isabel Townsend, agrees to take a look at her 'marbles', and finds that Isabel is not only fascinating, but is keeping many secrets. What happenes next is a powerful romance between a young woman tired of being alone, yet afraid to trust in love, who never realized she longed for a partner--someone she could love who would stand beside her-- and a man who had given up on love, and doubted that it even existed.

I don't want to give away any more of the story--you'll just have to read it to see how entertaining it is. I think readers will love Isabel--she's strong, she's funny, she's courageous, she's hard working--and she was dealt a very bad hand with the parents she had. And Nicholas? Whew! Charming, seductive, sexy, and a really good man--how could Isabel not fall in love with him? Well, she does fight it, because to her nothing ever good came from love, and she does have some mighty big issues with trust. But Nicholas is a man who understands her, and he's patient. And he realizes that he wants her like he's never wanted a woman before. Isabel is unique. One-of-a-kind. Now if he can just get her to trust him...

The chemistry between Nicholas and Isabel was super hot! The scenes with the marbles...ahhhh.:) Some of the scenes leading up to (and including) the wedding afternoon (*fanning myself*)...Sarah MacLean can really set a sexy scene is all I'll say.:) Have a fan handy...

This book had it all: an intriguing plot, some witty dialogue, some laugh out loud moments regarding Isabel and her 'servants', some teary moments for me when Isabel hurt Nick's feelings (what's wrong with you girl?!), an absolutely wonderful H/h, plenty of detail to wallow in, a secondary romance, numerous super-sexy interludes among the 'marbles', a beautiful 'make-up' scene, a quick re-visit to Callie and Gabriel (Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake and and a nice little HEA. What more could you want in a romance? Except maybe 50 more pages... 4 1/2 stars.(less)

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Jun 18, 2012 Baba ♥♥♥ Marcus, Tyler, Tate, Dan, Ty, & Hunter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sarah-maclean, historicals

FULL REVIEW NOW POSTED

4.5 stars.

„So beautiful…so passionate…my very own Voluptas.“ The words, more breath than sound, sent an explosion of heat through her. “Show me.”

It’s witty. It’s hilarious. It’s tempting. It’s charming.

A woman’s magazine called Pearls and Pelisses has named Lord Nicholas St. John one of London’s Lord to Land. Nicholas is very good at tracking missing people. His friend, the Duke of Leighton, is missing his sister Isabel. That’s why he asks Nick to help him and he agrees. A...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Sans rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, series-or-connected, character-i-want-to-bitch-slap, mediocrity-abounds, wake-me-up-when-its-over

I agree with Catherine, I was told all about how smexy and smart and blah blah blah Nicolas was, but I never actually believed it.

As for Isabel? Can I get "Slap That Bitch" for $200, Alex? She had a distinct whiff of Bella Swan about her for some reason. Perhaps because she felt all the responsibility for the entire fucking world rested squarely on her shoulders. Or perhaps it was her "I'm just a plain Jane, why should this god-like creature ever be interested in me?" attitude. Maybe it was jus...more

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Jan 11, 2012 UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: author-sarah-maclean, series-love-by-numbers, 2011-reads, starts-with-q-thru-t, a-feel-good-story, format-paperback, top-heroines, top-couples-of-all-time, 4-5-stars, reviewed-by-me

Wow! Sarah MacLean knows now to write the kinds of women I wish I were more like. If I could choose to be any one historical romance heroine, I’d be Callie from Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake , and then next I would want to be Isabel from this book, Ten Ways to be Adored When Landing a Lord.

Having to follow in the page-steps of such a fabulous first book in the series can’t be easy for any author, and I had very, very high expectations for this book, and for the most part, they were...more

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Mar 09, 2011 Mojca rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, regency, own, part-of-a-series, series-trilogy-love-by-numbers, sarah-maclean, couch-potato-challenge, monthly-challenge-read-march, bitchslapable-heroine, hb, oscar-winners-challenge

This is a perfect example of how an annoying heroine can ruin a story. Because after the (almost) perfection of Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake this story was rather a huge disappointment for me. It wasn’t the writing, style, pacing or narrative voice. Because those were to par with Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake. It really was the heroine that ruined it all for me.

And here comes the obvious comparison with the first book in this trilogy. While Callie also had a few hang-ups...more This is a perfect example of how an annoying heroine can ruin a story. Because after the (almost) perfection of Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake this story was rather a huge disappointment for me. It wasn’t the writing, style, pacing or narrative voice. Because those were to par with Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake. It really was the heroine that ruined it all for me.

And here comes the obvious comparison with the first book in this trilogy. While Callie also had a few hang-ups and issues, she accepted them and really tried to move on, tried to change, tried to rise above what she herself and others expected from her. Isabel was completely different. She had a bit more issues and hang-ups than Callie, but did she try to change? Nope. She stubbornly clung to those issues like a mantle of protection against the world, against everything and everybody in fear of somehow turning into her mother and driving the man she loved away.
(view spoiler)
I only really enjoyed this story when Isabel was absent or during the sex scenes, when she couldn’t talk much and let her mouth ruin everything.
I guess Ms. MacLean tried to make Isabel appear strong and resilient, but instead she came through as petulant, too-stubborn, a little selfish, and a whole lot annoying.

Another comparison comes to mind, this time between the hero of Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, Nick’s twin brother and Nick. I guess the roles between hero and heroine were reversed when it came to this book. (view spoiler)

While this was yet another great example of Ms. MacLean’s writing, I just couldn’t get past the heroine and her behavior. Thanks to Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, I came to expect a lot and was actually looking forward to Nick’s story, since Nick was supposed to be the “handsomer and more gentlemanly of the St. John twins”. I love him to bits, but I feel his story didn’t do him justice and he sure didn’t get what he deserved in the heroine department.(less)

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Nov 10, 2010 Alisha rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: HR fans who like likeable heros and strong heroines

Quick Take: What delicious story! I thoroughly enjoyed it, from beginning to end. The question is not so much "will I like this book?" but rather, "how much will I like this book?" Reading book 1 one not required.

Okay, so I'm having a spot of trouble figuring out what I'd like to say about this book. Typically I write some notes down as I'm reading a book, so as to have something semi-coherent to say in my review. But in this case, I didn't because I was too busy reading! :o) I read this book in...more Quick Take: What delicious story! I thoroughly enjoyed it, from beginning to end. The question is not so much "will I like this book?" but rather, "how much will I like this book?" Reading book 1 one not required.

Okay, so I'm having a spot of trouble figuring out what I'd like to say about this book. Typically I write some notes down as I'm reading a book, so as to have something semi-coherent to say in my review. But in this case, I didn't because I was too busy reading! :o) I read this book in pretty much one extended sitting.

Unlike with the previous book, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, the story take place largely away from society . Here, it's the distant specter of society's actions and expectations that looms large over the hero and heroine. For Lord Nicholas St. John it's the threat of husband hungry ladies in London...for Lady Isabel Townsend it's the effect of a absentee--and most scandalous--father. And for the ladies that inhabit Isabel's "Minerva House," it's the threat of discovery (and thus abuse, both literal and figurative). The effect of this is a story that focuses more keenly on the characters and their shared experiences.

...and to me, the real gem of this book was the cast of characters. I was particularly fond of the addition of James, Isabel's 10-year-old brother and newly named Earl of Reddich. The interactions between James and Nick were so sweet. Nick's consideration for the numerous similarities between the boy and himself (when he was James's age), and his attempts to give the child some of the fatherly care he never had, absolutely endeared me to both of the guys.

Also a treat was the group of ladies that inhabit Minerva House. They provided many laughs with their playful banter. They have little individual face time (they're more of a package deal), but the author balances this with some brief description of each one's path to the safehouse. Their stories are touching...and their collective survival (and...thrival? lol) is one of the more inspirational bits of the book.

Of course, the meat of the book is the progression of romance between Isabel and Nick. In my eyes, it did not disappoint. The pairing made sense; both individuals are strong-willed, protective, capable types who just happen to have major issues with trust and romantic love. For all the book's mention of "protection" and "rescue," it was all about watching the two help each other heal. And it was beautiful.

Thank goodness there's a third book in the works. The author clearly knows how to craft compelling characters and situations. I absolutely cannot wait to see what she's got it store. Autobuy, indeed! ^_^(less)

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Oct 27, 2010 Tori [Book Faery] rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, e-book, netgalley, reviewed, read-in-2010

Chapter three is when our heroine and hero finally meet. After reading the first chapter, which was dedicated to the dialogue between Nick and his friends, and then chapter two, which was dedicated to the dialogue between Isabel and her friends, it was a huge relief to finally see some action in this story. This is the point where the book began to pick up speed for me.

Despite my inability to connect with the characters in the first two chapters, I was constantly laughing out loud all throughout...more Chapter three is when our heroine and hero finally meet. After reading the first chapter, which was dedicated to the dialogue between Nick and his friends, and then chapter two, which was dedicated to the dialogue between Isabel and her friends, it was a huge relief to finally see some action in this story. This is the point where the book began to pick up speed for me.

Despite my inability to connect with the characters in the first two chapters, I was constantly laughing out loud all throughout the first meeting in chapter three and the meetings following that. Isabel and Nick were such a wacky duo and they weren't the typical hero and heroine. Nick was arrogant but he was also, more importantly, sweet. A nice change of pace. Isabel was independent and I loved that she wasn't depicted as the perfect woman. Her being somewhat scattered during their first meeting definitely made me appreciate her character more.

Then something happened while reading this story. All the lightheartedness dissipated and was replaced by angst, angst, angst. I believe if a novel starts out a certain way, it's important to maintain those elements throughout the rest of the book (unless, of course, something dire happens -- which was not the case here).

I had two main problems with this book: the predictability and the drama.

Predictability: I hate to say it, but I knew what was going to happen when the funny moments gave way to the angst. This definitely lessened the excitement of the book. It would have been nice to see a new twist within the story to compensate for the loss of laughter. Oh who am I kidding, this book needed more laughs, and less angst.

Drama: The story was too dramatic for my tastes, and not in the typical "oh no, drama" type of way. I found that the "tension" between Nick and Isabel was overdone to the point where I began rolling my eyes the second the two had yet another issue to handle. At one point I was actually tempted to fling my Kindle away from me because of the senseless dramatics.

Now don't get me wrong, I love it when heroines are stubborn. But Isabel? By having her act this way, after being such an endearing character at the start, she grew less intelligent in my eyes. Here was a girl so composed and yet so scattered that she was fun to read about. Have her fall for someone, and she transforms into yet another typical damaged character who is too frustratingly obtuse and stubborn to like. Yes, I did not like Isabel as the story progressed. I wanted to smack her upside the head.

Nick had faults too, though not as many as his female counterpart. He had a tendency to conveniently pop up everywhere. At the beginning, this was fun. When the two grew more obsessed with each other, it drove me nuts (because he always conveniently walked in when Isabel stupidly trash talked him). We have the typical "hero must keep secret from heroine" moment in this book too, which lessened Nick as a character for me.

All-in-all, most of the drama could have been avoided if Isabel remained the level-headed character she originally was. I hate to blame a heroine entirely, but I think it was her fault for all the stupid misunderstandings between the two. I don't think I encounter very many books where the conflicts between both characters seemed petty and unnecessary; this one is high up there on the list.

Other minor complaints: Isabel transforming from a strong woman into some "shy maiden" the second she becomes undressed. I know a lot of historicals do this. I hate it, but I understand why. The problem with Isabel reverting to this: she deviated so far from the somewhat confident (albeit, stressed) woman I still somewhat appreciated into the stereotypical *insert skittish animal name here* that I mourned the former's disappearance. She also sighed a lot whenever she made out with Nick. Isabel sighed so much, in fact, that I knew whenever the two would get intimate BECAUSE she would "sigh against his lips." I ended up skipping any other sex scene with the two due to the annoying repetition.

After reflecting upon this book further, I think I much preferred the two being friends over lovers. They were less infuriating and dimwitted that way.

Overall? It was an okay read. MacLean can write, that much is apparent. I appreciated the humor that she included within the first part of the book, yet the characters ended up transforming into people I did not personally enjoy. That's not to say that others will not enjoy this story. In fact, I think plenty will love Isabel and Nick's story. Unfortunately, I was not one of them.(less)

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Mar 14, 2012 Annika rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, romance

Even I wasn't really convinced by the predecessor of this book I did like the Charackter Nick well enough to read this one. And let me tell you in advance, while it started out realtively fine I came to really dislike it.
It's Nicks and Isabels story. Nick "stumbles" over Isabel while searching for the runaway sister of one of his friends. Isabel is the daughter of an Earl (or some other gentry title) who gambled away all the money. Her parents are dead already and she takes care alone of her lit...more Even I wasn't really convinced by the predecessor of this book I did like the Charackter Nick well enough to read this one. And let me tell you in advance, while it started out realtively fine I came to really dislike it.
It's Nicks and Isabels story. Nick "stumbles" over Isabel while searching for the runaway sister of one of his friends. Isabel is the daughter of an Earl (or some other gentry title) who gambled away all the money. Her parents are dead already and she takes care alone of her little brother and runs a rather illegal place to shelter runaways (only for women/girls that is).
There were so many holes in this story I can't hardly recite them all. Main things that bugged me:
- her father didn't love her mother and did seclude his family away in the country merly visiting and if so, only for money. Now Isabels brother is approx. 10 years her junior. It has never be explained why so? The father does not love his wife but nevertheless, he gets her pregnant as well after ten years while merly visits? OK, maybe he wanted an heir but wouldn't you think he would try for this a bit earlier than ten years after the birth of his daughter? The ten year old brother is just a convenient plot device without explanation.
- Isabel is in extreme dire financial straits. She does not have money for even the most necessary things like repairing her roof (water is dropping in her bedroom chamber and while I expect she is not living under the attic (staff rooms) I wonder very much about the condition of the whole estate... She can't fix fences and so livestock is escaping and she looses with it more money. she does not have enough money to buy candles to properly light the house. Cn't buy ne clothing. is sitting on a marbel colletion worth hundrets and thousands of pounds not selling them because she loves them. No. 2 is able to feed and support around two dozen of refugees who "somehow" help "running" the estate? No. 4 she has very old brandy in her cellar she does not know about/what it is and does not sell it? No. 4 she is described as so capable and everything that it makes you wonder how it could come to this.
- There have ben several dozen attemps of kidnapping some of the refugees back and the location and purpose of her house is still unknown, respectively known only by women???? Eeee?

I though Nicks background story not very belivably and also his reason for “never falling in love” (which are not his parents by the way which more understandable). Then there was Nicks friend Rock the Turk (has made no apparence in the first book even so it seems they are somehow always togetehr, but OK). Who is he? Why is in London? How did he meet Nick. Why did he help Nick during his time in Turkey? In the beginning Nicks threatened him with sending him back to Turkey (what would he have to fear there? ) and why can he threaten him? Because in the end of the book we learn he is a rather wealthy (if untitled) man himself? Not one of these questions are answered.

But now the worst – it’s actually reading the predecessor all over again. Just a little other main story wound around it. The whole seduction thing is scene by scene absolutely identical, often down to the dialogue. The way Isabel and Nick behave in their passion or however you want to call it is totally identical to The one of Callie and Gabriel in Nine rules to break when romancing a rake.
The language issue I already cirtized in the first part became awful – it’s one big repetition.
We have a again the trust issue – pulled of even worse than in the predecessor. Which leaves you with thinking what an idiot woman Isabel ist and how small minded she is.
I rolled my eyes in the end and had to stop each second page – I really had to force my self to read it to the end.
Read the first one and I suppose you read all of them. I won’t purchase the third part even I would like to know Julianas story…
(less)

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Mar 14, 2013 Iliada rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star, historical-romance, regency-georgian-victorian

4.5 stars

Let me start with a small summary of the plot.

The story starts with Isabel, the daughter of an infamous earl known as the Westrearl who has been a very bad father and has gambled away all his fortune and even his own daughter. Isabel manages to scare away a suitor to whom her father has lost 100 pounds and has offered his daughter's hand in marriage as payment, just before she learns of the earl's death.

Meanwhile, Lord Nicholas (Gabriel's brother from #9) has been declared one of London...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Holly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sarah MacLean again amazes me! After reading first book Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake I could hardly wait for Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord, luckily for me my sister found the very last copy at the store.
I really loved the book, learning more about the mysterious Nicholas St.John. Also, loved how it had the magazine clippings at the beginning of each chapter and of course the ten rules! Lady Isabel Townsend intrigued me throughout the book, I found her witty, humorous an...more

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Oct 30, 2010 Adi (Reading in the Windowseat) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-read-list, own-on-paper, genre-regency, class-adult, genre-romance

If you loved 9 Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, then its sequel would definitely take a place within your favorites, too.

When I read that the second book from the series was going to be about the calm and romantic Nicholas St. John and not about his firecracker of a sister Juliana – I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed. I thought that, him being so gentle and kind and all things lovable would make the novel somewhat boring.

Was I ever wrong.

It turned out that he was a man, harboring so...more

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Nov 11, 2010 Nisha rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historicalromance, bluestocking-independent-spinster, dangerous-or-bad-boys, super-large-family-series

After reading the first book of the series, I had a high expectation upon this one. Maybe that was the reason why I did not feel completely satisfied after finishing this book. Yet, I cannot deny how much I enjoyed reading it.

Isabel, our tortured heroine, is caring for a 10 year old earl (her younger brother) and a houseful of women who have turned to her for help (usually due to terrible brothers/fathers/husband). Isabel, herself, is a victim of her wastrel father's negligence and her mother's...more After reading the first book of the series, I had a high expectation upon this one. Maybe that was the reason why I did not feel completely satisfied after finishing this book. Yet, I cannot deny how much I enjoyed reading it.

Isabel, our tortured heroine, is caring for a 10 year old earl (her younger brother) and a houseful of women who have turned to her for help (usually due to terrible brothers/fathers/husband). Isabel, herself, is a victim of her wastrel father's negligence and her mother's blame. She is strong, but now at the end of her string to support the household, she has to sell her collection of marbles. Nick, our dashing hero, is also a man who has had his share of a tortured past. He also happens exhibit a tendency to fall for women who require saving and later betraying him. Obviously it leaves him with a sour taste for all women and it gets worse when he is named an eligible bachelor in a popular magazine, Pearls and Pelisses. Lucky for him, his pompous duke friend asks for his help to hunt down his missing sister, since supposedly, he has become and expert tracker. When Nick meets Isabel, he is drawn to the strong, infuriating woman who refuses to ask for help. Isabel is also attracted to this stranger, but her serious trust issues keep her from committing.

I loved Nick. I was surprised to find that he was not at all the tortured hero that most stories would label him, especially with a weird past like his. He realized his love for Isabel quite easily and addressed it without fear. Now Isabel had some serious problems. With all the responsibility on her shoulders, she has trouble trusting other people, specifically handsome men who want to actually help her. At times, to protect herself, she manages to hurt Nick, which was terribly tragic to me. What I found surprising was how easily the pair got intimate. I know they are in the country, but it was shocking how easily Isabel started an intimate relationship, when they were still bickering.

The secondary romance and characters were all kept the story amusing, especially the child earl, who happens to be a peeping tom. I wish we knew more about Rock and Lara's courtship, because it seemed cute.

Overall, a nice story, not exceptionally memorable, but a fun addition to the series. I believe it is the setting, away from the original cast of characters. I can't wait until the next book with the youngest Ralston and hopefully the pompous Duke I mentioned earlier.
(less)

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Jan 10, 2011 Pamela(AllHoney) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, love-hate-relationship, hr-georgian-regency, dukes-earls-viscounts-etc, my-4-star-romances

Another of those "I loved it but don't know why" books. Ms MacLean has the talent of putting a story together in an enchanting and delightful way.

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Apr 26, 2013 Holly marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-out-do-yourself, 211-books-in-2011, january-2011, read-in-2011, giveaways, stack-1

Although this was a good read (i even stayed up late to finish it in one sitting) it wasn't as well done as 9Rules.
Isabel was a well rounded character, excepting that her reasons for avoiding marriage, especially her final denial, didn't ring true to me. Her constant claims that she could take care of herself carried less weight than they should have, since she obviously couldn't do it alone. In the beginning of the novel I applauded her independence, but as the novel wore on she seemed more st...more

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Jan 03, 2011 Lora rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of Historical Romance

Shelves: g-hr

Ever since Pearls and Pelisses, a popular ladies' magizine, dubbed Lord Nicholas St. John "London's Lord to Land", he's been chased by practially every marriageable woman in the city. In an attempt to free himself from the ever persistent women of London, he takes an offer to track down his friend's sister who has left the city for reasons unknown. This, of course, leads him to the doorstep of Lady Isabel Townsend. Thus begins what is to be one of my favorite historical romances of the year.

Sinc...more Ever since Pearls and Pelisses, a popular ladies' magizine, dubbed Lord Nicholas St. John "London's Lord to Land", he's been chased by practially every marriageable woman in the city. In an attempt to free himself from the ever persistent women of London, he takes an offer to track down his friend's sister who has left the city for reasons unknown. This, of course, leads him to the doorstep of Lady Isabel Townsend. Thus begins what is to be one of my favorite historical romances of the year.

Since reading Nine to Break When Romancing a Rake when it debuted back in March, I've been eagerly anticipating its sequel; of which I was not disappointed.

There's so many great things to be said of this wonderful historical: First off, the writing, as with the first installment of this series, was superb. For me, if the writing isn't good, I most likely won't finish the novel I'm reading. But, fortunately, Ms. MacLean's writing is very vivid as well as highly entertaining. She does a wonderful job of bringing the characters and scenes of her novels to life with stunning clarity.

Which brings me to my next topic: the characters. Lord Nicholas St. John was certainly a formidable hero and a great counterpart to Lady Isabel; he's handsome, witty, and definitely a fierce and sensual lover.

The secondary characters were also very good: Rock, a Turk whom I believe is quite aptly named, was a character I enjoyed a lot and would perhaps like to have for myself. *grin*

All in all, I thought this novel was very good; my only problem with it was Lady Isabel's actions in the latter part of the novel. I thought she could have been a little bit more understanding and forgiving towards Lord Nicholas; basically I thought that she was rash in her decision making. That being said, I thought her actions and choice of words when apologizing to Lord Nicholas were enough to make up for her earlier blunder. And the ending itself was very well executed and quite adorable. I will be earerly awaiting the release of Ms. MacLean's next historical, Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart (Release: April 26, 2011), featuring the dashing Duke of Leighton and Lady Juliana.(less)

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Jan 02, 2011 Meredith rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance, chick-lit

So here are the ten reasons I loved Sarah MacLean’s new book.

10. Sarah MacLean is from Rhode Island. Maybe that’s not a good reason for you, but it’s a good reason for me. Rhode Island is a small state. We get lost in the shuffle or compared to the size of icebergs floating in the icy, arctic waters. So whenever someone from Rhode Island does something awesome, I feel the need to be “Rhode Island REPRESENT!” Also, I see it as my solemn duty to evangelize to the rest of the world that Rhode Islan...more
So here are the ten reasons I loved Sarah MacLean’s new book.

10. Sarah MacLean is from Rhode Island. Maybe that’s not a good reason for you, but it’s a good reason for me. Rhode Island is a small state. We get lost in the shuffle or compared to the size of icebergs floating in the icy, arctic waters. So whenever someone from Rhode Island does something awesome, I feel the need to be “Rhode Island REPRESENT!” Also, I see it as my solemn duty to evangelize to the rest of the world that Rhode Islanders are more than just Elizabeth Hasselbeck from The View and the guy who told President Obama to “shove it.”

9. The book is the second in a series and the first one was great. Ten Ways continues the story of the St. John siblings. Gabriel’s story comprised the first book, Nine Rules to Break, and it is one of my favorite Regency romance novels. I’ve read it so often that the binding is all worn down. So, naturally, it stands to reason that the second book in the same series by the same author would be wonderful as well – and it was.

8. It’s a Regency romance, so there’s lords and ladies and dukes, oh my! Given my obsession with enthusiasm for English Tudor and Georgian history, I really should have been born years earlier so I too could wear fancy ball gowns, waltz with notorious rakes and libertines and ride in carriages. Instead, I can live vicariously through books. I love nearly all Regency romances, but I especially love the ones featuring members of the aristocracy and nobility, two classes so far removed from my own life that I can’t help but be fascinated.

7. Of course, no book is a good book without good dialogue and, in Ten Ways, plentiful witty, clever banter abounds. In the grand tradition of Jane Austen’s spirited heroines, all good historical romances (like MacLean’s novels) should feature delicious wordplay and wickedly entertaining back-and-forth between many of the characters, engaging readers and eliciting laughs.

6. No romance novel is complete without a devilishly handsome hero! MacLean kicks it up a notch by giving Nicholas St. John a few secrets, one well-placed roguish scar and the classic trait of being entirely unable to resist a damsel in distress. And, as if all of that wasn’t enough, he’s a genuinely good person too, determined to help others and take care of those who need protecting. Swoon!

5. And what good is a hero without a kick-ass awesome heroine, with secrets of her own? Lady Isabel may need some assistance, but she’s no damsel in distress. She’s strong and independent, perfectly capable to taking care of herself and infinitely resourceful. She’s also resolutely determined to do things her way, even when that infuriates Nicholas.

4. One thing that makes Ten Ways stand up from other Regency romances is the undercurrent of feminism throughout the book. Isabel may be low on funds, but she’s essentially been running her estate for years, a task not often left to women. More importantly, though, she provides safe haven for women looking to escape desperate situations, resulting in a home run entirely by strong, capable women. It’s girl power, Regency-style.

3. It’s a romance novel, so of course, there’s lots of smooching. It wouldn’t really be a romance if there wasn’t some kind of smooching. Isabel and Nicholas’ chemistry is evident from the moment they meet and while it’s fun to watch them try to avoid and delay the inevitable, there’s a sense of satisfaction when they finally realize what you’ve known for chapters: they belong together.

2. No, really, there’s A LOT of smooching. Romance novels can run the gamut from tame to sizzling hot, with every sort of variation in between. Ten Ways doesn’t shy away from the fun, sexy times AT ALL. Nicholas and Isabel are not, after all, repressed Victorians! I’ve heard people argue that pre-marital fun, sexy times are unrealistic to a Regency romance and that’s a perfectly fine opinion to hold. But I’d rather just enjoy the chemistry. And the smooching.

1. Last, but certainly not least, Ten Ways concludes with a sweet and happily-ever-after ending. Obstacles have been overcome, mistakes have been corrected, forgiveness has been obtained and all is right in the world. Perfect endings are rare in real life, which makes them all the more rewarding in fiction.

You don’t have to read the previous book first to enjoy Ten Ways, though I’d recommend that one as well. In fact, I have to confess that, as much as I enjoyed Ten Ways, I still prefer Callie – the heroine from Nine Rules – more, as she is like the Regency equivalent of me (sort of). I’d also love to know what happens to some of the supporting characters in both books, which means I’ll just have to wait and see.(less)

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Jan 20, 2012 Irisheyz77 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, ebook, for-review

Any regular reader of my blog knows that I am a fan of Sarah Maclean. She is an author who writes really good heartfelt stories. Her heroines aren't your typical girls. They are usually a bit awkward, bookish and perhaps a bit plumper than what is considered the norm. They are girls that defy the conventions in their own ways in order to blaze their own path. They are girls in which you can see yourself in and become really attached to. But there is something about Isabel Townsend that really se...more

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Oct 04, 2011 Aquit rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, books-from-library, boring-predictable-carnival, waste-of-time-and-tree, what-the-hell-is-happening-here, twit-is-useless-twit, twit-need-a-backbone-not-a-dick, no-connection-between-h-and-h, guy-has-dicks-for-brains, guy-needs-to-fall-off-a-cliff, author-to-be-avoided, books-i-reviewed, dnf, the-horrible-kiss-syndrome

I was rolling my eyes after the first half of the book. The chit has what I like to call "The Kiss Syndrome." Everytime she's mad at him for trying to earn her trust, he would kiss her and she ends up forgiving him because his kiss is like a mind warp that magically makes her forget everything except his body sexing her up. I hate reading plotlines like that. Really, I know a kiss can make you lose your senses but the way MacLean writes it, it also makes you into a brainless twit.

And speaking o...more

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Nov 11, 2012 ~V~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

Still really enjoying this series! Very cute and very sweet, also had some good steamy moments, although the sexual tension might have been a little bit higher in the first book. Isabel was an alright heroine, although she drove me a little bit nutty with how dang stubborn she was. I loved Nicholas of course, he was the perfect gentleman! It was a nice little spin to see (view spoiler)...although MY heart broke for him! Enjoyed al...more

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Aug 24, 2010 Nicole added it · review of another edition

I love a good romance every now and then and here's ten reasons why I adored this one:

1. I read Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake so I just had to find out what happened to Ralston's twin brother, Nick

2. Isabel's brother is so very cute...he has a lot of aw moments in the book

3. This book consists of two men stranded in a house full of girls

4. Some of these girls are wonderfully feisty

5. One of these girls is the quirky heroine, Isabel

6. Isabel can be annoying and frustrating, but she le...more

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Mar 10, 2013 Leea marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Impromptu buddy read with Regina :)

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Jan 12, 2013 Stargirl (Shoujo and YA Banter/Vocaloid Fanatic) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, trilogy, romance-hot-tamale-sex

3....maybe 4 stars?

Romance novels for me, are something of a guilty pleasure. I sat yesterday in my Senior Composition class, doing SSR, all the while praying that the girl behind me didn't glance from her phone over my shoulder and see that I was reading a adult romance novel. Sure she likes Fifty....but there's a fine line between erotica, and an actual romance. So, in short, I was as red as a tomato while I was reading this book. And rolling my eyes at the same time. I'll get to why in a min...more 3....maybe 4 stars?

Romance novels for me, are something of a guilty pleasure. I sat yesterday in my Senior Composition class, doing SSR, all the while praying that the girl behind me didn't glance from her phone over my shoulder and see that I was reading a adult romance novel. Sure she likes Fifty....but there's a fine line between erotica, and an actual romance. So, in short, I was as red as a tomato while I was reading this book. And rolling my eyes at the same time. I'll get to why in a minute. Let's go over the plot.

My first Sarah Maclean book. I've heard a lot about this author, and you all know I'm a sucker for a hot,sexy, yummy guy, and romance (who am I kidding? You guys don't care. But I am.) The plot deals with Lady Isabel, who takes in runaways and other ladies that stay at her house, along with her brother, the ten year old James. She is in financial ruin, her brother is no more fit to becoming the earl than he is to lead an army, and she's caught up in feelings she's never experienced before; when Lord Nickolas comes by and saves her from a runaway carriage. She slowly begins to fall in love with him, while trying to keep her wits about herself. Can she save the house? Or will she be swept under the spell of the antique lover?

Back to the eye rolling and blushing. I think we can all agree, unless you are thirty or older, romance novels are....pretty predictable, or are just skimmed for sex. Once you usually have two characters who clearly are attracted to one another (after being put in a position that makes them have to occupy the same living space or something of the sort), they go through a tug of love and hate. That was my first problem with this book. In a matter of three days, Isabel and Nick have already (view spoiler). Needless to say, the heat between them progresses pretty quickly. It isn't insta-love, but it does. Which I personally found to be pretty unbelievable. That a man can break down walls with in a matter of 72 hours, that Isabel has had for at least half of her life. Hence the rolling of my eyes.

Another roll eyeing issue, are the sex scenes. What IS it with romance novels (more specifically, adult ones), describing sexual acts with purple prose? He circled her bud of desire with his thumb, making her ache desperatly. Shit like that. Why can't you just say he rubbed her clitorious? I found myself conflicted through the sex/ romance scenes. They were very well written, and I'd be lying if I said they didn't turn me on. But we don't need all of the flowery garden purple prose to tell us what's going on. It's laughable. It's cheesy...it's....it's....so Hollywood having sex on screen, as if your first time is filled with no pain at all, just moans, laughter, and giggling while you make out naked. It's like when movies say it's sexy to kiss in the rain. No it's not. Your clothes and hair are plastered to your body and face, hair gets in the way, makeup smears, and it's just...no. No. Basically, the sex in this book was sexy, hot, and I enjoyed it. A lot. But it isn't a realistic portrayl of sex and how it really is. (I'm not discussing how I know. I just do).

So why did I enjoy this book? The characters were well developed, I loved the sex scenes, and I thought it was well written. Read it if you love romance novels, or want a break from the YA insta-love, and are in the mood for a good story and some steamy sex scenes. Or just love the 1800's or historical romances. I for one love the era of corsets and England espically. I'm also a sucker for a good HR. I have another book by her. I'm looking forward to reading it. (less)

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Oct 27, 2012 Janyn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I absolutely loved Nine Rules... Which I had recently finished when I read this book. Needless to say, my head was still in the book while reading this so there might be some certain degree of bias in my reviews

I love independent women. I myself want to be strong and independent. And Isabel was certainly that kind of woman, having gone through her experiences. But needless to say, I found part of her character a tad exasperating. The consistent pattern of thought I found in this book was how Isa...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Netha rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

setelah membaca buku 1 yg memikat hati, baca buku ke 2 aq kecewa nih
membosankannnnnnnnnnnn...............

lord nicholas st. john setelah dinobatkan sbg lord to land by popular ladies magazine yg membuatnya jadi incaran memilih pergi menyepi nah kebetulan temannya, duke of leighton, memintanya untuk mencari adik perempuannya yg menghilang.

pencarian nicholas membawanya ke desa......(sorry kagak ingat nama desanya). disana nicholas bertemu dengan wanita eksentrik, lady isabel townsend.
lady isabel me...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Vanessa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: alternate-pov, romance-historical

The thing is, Nine rules to break when romancing a rake set the bar so very high, I had tremendous expectations for the next book in the Love by Numbers series. I should have listened to Alexander Pope when he said "blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed", but well... I didn't. And disappointed I've been, indeed. Quite thoroughly.

It's not that much that I didn't go with the storyplot. A gentleman seizes the opportunity to flee London's matchseeking females (harrida...more The thing is, Nine rules to break when romancing a rake set the bar so very high, I had tremendous expectations for the next book in the Love by Numbers series. I should have listened to Alexander Pope when he said "blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed", but well... I didn't. And disappointed I've been, indeed. Quite thoroughly.

It's not that much that I didn't go with the storyplot. A gentleman seizes the opportunity to flee London's matchseeking females (harridans, really)and to help an old friend. A gentlewoman struggles to keep her head above the water while keeping her secrets _ the women in need she shelters in her home, and her own insecurities. They meet over a collection of antiques. Why not.

No, what disturbed me was the time-line. 3 days. That's all it took for Nick to overcome his deep-rooted fear of love and marriage and for Isabel to surrender all her well-kept secrets. I just didn't buy it _ it seemed so out of character, so outrageous, really, for them to overlook their long years of emotional scars in 3 little days. Everything happened far too fast for my taste. And consequentely, I didn't really connect with either characters. Nick _ who I found delicious in book #1 _ acted here mostly as a pompous ass, always pushing Isabel to trust him with her (and her girls') secrets all the while hiding the reason of his presence in Yorkshire. And Isabel, who supposedly is a strong-willed independant woman, just waits for a man to take notice of her and throw all the things she helds dear at his feet.

The end of the book was actually better (view spoiler) because here I really felt that both characters were true to themselves. But the great majority of the book just confused, and annoyed, me.

I wish they had taken things slower, peeling their insecurities off one at the time, instead of this rush.

I liked the book, of course, it was still well-written (I adore Sarah MacLean's style), and the secondary characters rocked, but all in one, Ten ways to be adored when landing a lord simply wasn't what I had expected. And not in the good way. (less)

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Sep 17, 2012 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, adult-fiction, romance

I will admit that I knew the second book would focus on the twin brother Nicholas while half-way through the first novel focusing on Gabriel, and honestly, I could not wait to read this book. Like a fan-girl taking sides or choosing a favourite, Maclean creates two distinctive brothers who happen to be twins. I cannot help myself but favour one to the other, it simply comes down to personal preference. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the first book also. Maclean develops wonderfully the character...more

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Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord (Love By Numbers #2)

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