Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart (Love by Numbers, #3)by Sarah Maclean

There is no telling where a scandal might lead...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. (goodreads.com)

I am not a romance fan. I have read the occasional romance novel though, but only by trusted authors and Sarah MacLean is one of those. I don't know why I picked up this particular novel right after I finished The Silence of Bonaventure Arrow because it's completely different. Maybe that's what I needed? I read both books in one day on a rainy weekend and they are total opposite ends of the literary spectrum.As much as I enjoyed the first two books in this little series (Nine Rules to Break..., and Ten Ways to be Adored...) I am disappointed to say that I didn't enjoy this book much at all.I did not like Juliana at all. I don't think I had much of an opinion of her in the other two books because she wasn't at the centre of the stories. I felt no connection between Juliana and the Duke of Leighton. I actually thought the love stories in the first two books were sweet and I enjoyed the witty banter and silly things the leading ladies would do to either land or avoid their respective men. In Eleven Scandals I felt little to no connection to either of the main characters and I was more annoyed by Juliana's actions than endeared by them.I found the humour I loved so much in the first two books to be rather lacking this time around, but I stuck it out through the story because I felt committed to this family and their romantic lives. Why? I don't know. I mean, I don't LIKE romance novels! Ha! But I sort of wanted everyone to have a happy ending. And eventually, Juliana does find one and I felt a little more sympathy for her once her mother waltzed back into their lives. I was very happy when she was told off. What a shrew!I have had this book in my TBR for ages, since I'm pretty sure Kristi (The Story Siren) sent it to me as a Christmas gift in 2011! I figured it was about time to move it from one pile to another. :) One thing I am trying to accomplish this year is to read mostly my OWN books. I have so many around the house, I fear what would happen if I had to move into a smaller home. I might have to choose between books and my husband. (Never between books and the dogs, of course. ;)) I wouldn't be too happy about that, I mean, we will be married 8 years in July and I'm not quite ready to give him up yet. heh