(Also this picture does not do this cover justice it is like HOT pink!!)
She lives for passion.
Bold, impulsive, and a magnet for trouble, Juliana Fiori is no simpering English miss. She refuses to play by society's rules: she speaks her mind, cares nothing for the approval of the
ton, and can throw a punch with remarkable accuracy. Her scandalous nature makes her a favorite subject of London's most practiced gossips . . . and precisely the kind of woman The Duke of Leighton wants far far away from him.
He swears by reputation.
Scandal is the last thing Simon Pearson has room for in his well-ordered world. The Duke of Disdain is too focused on keeping his title untainted and his secrets unknown. But when he discovers Juliana hiding in his carriage late one evening—risking everything he holds dear—he swears to teach the reckless beauty a lesson in propriety. She has other plans, however; she wants two weeks to prove that even an unflappable duke is not above passion.
This book is about Juliana Fiori the half-sister of Gabriel (Nine Rules) and Nicholas (Ten Ways). Juliana is not only the daughter of an Italian merchant but daughter to one of the most infamous Marchionesses that the ton has seen in a while. When she first lands in London she catches the eye of Simon Pearson whom she would later find out to be none other than the Duke of Leighton or more commonly known around the ton as the Duke of Disdain. After finding out about Juliana’s parentage he quickly lets her know that she is unworthy of any kind of association with him.
Simon Pearson wants nothing more than to protect his family. His sister is off in the country about to give birth without being married. He thinks by marrying a completely respectable English girl whose family has plenty of money and power and title then when his secret is revealed the ton may gossip but it won’t be much considering whom they will be talking about.
But Juliana has other plans. She wagers with Simon that within two weeks she will have him on his knees. She will make him succumb to passion which he finds to be a completely useless emotion in a good and proper English life.
Simon wagers that he will teach her a lesson that sometimes life must be lived stricter and that living a life full of passion can only lead to scandal and heartache.
The two set out to prove they are in the right. Juliana by tempting Simon at every turn with her sharp tongue and fiery passion. Simon by showing her that he still plans to marry the English “grape”.
OMG let me just tell you this book was as I told Mrs. MacLean on Twitter – “bloody brilliant”!! At first you hate Simon and you are thinking how in the world is she going to redeem him? Because in the last book Ten Ways you get a bit of a taste of whom he is but then in this book you really see him. So you are wondering how she is going to turn this around. But she does so just beautifully!! You actually start to feel a bit sorry for him especially after meeting his mother. Juliana wants nothing more than to fit in to the English society even though she claims it does not matter. She wants Simon to realize that a life lived without love and passion is a life only half lived. The story evolved naturally and without seeming pushy.
I know at the end of this story I was sighing and laughing and crying all at the same time. So if a book can do this then all I know is it has to be good!
I will say this the one character that really caught my eye in this book was Benedick the Earl of Allendale whom is the brother of Callie from Nine Rules. I soo would love to have his story!!
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Currently Reading: Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn (yes I got my copy early it was not supposed to be released until May 31st!!)
Up Next: Cloudy With a Chance of Marriage by Kieran Kramer
Watching: The French Open
by Sarah MacLean
