Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Lord of Scoundrels (Scoundrels, Bk 3)

Lord of Scoundrels (Scoundrels, Bk 3)
Catherine1 avatar reviewed on + 60 more book reviews


Jessica has come to Paris to remove her brother, Bertie, from the influence of Sebastian, Lord Dain. She's well aware of the fact that her brother is easily led and is determined to get him away from Lord Dain before he drives the family into bankruptcy. As soon as Jessica and Lord Dain meet the tension between them practically leaps off the page. They are fascinated with each other, but aren't too happy about the fact. Jessica is able to best Lord Dain when having coffee with him, which leads him to declaring war on her. Jessica becomes infuriated by the fact that Lord Dain won't war with only her; he's using her brother as a pawn. Multiple hilarious situations result in Lord Dain and Jessica marrying. The misunderstandings and comical situations don't stop at the altar though.

Jessica was a wonderful character. She was actually strong and embraced her desire. It was very refreshing to read a heroine like that. I loved the banter between the two leads. The constant battle to come out on top and best one another was fabulous. Often I find that what is supposed to be funny in stories falls flat for me. That definitely didn't happen here. The humor and wit shown by both characters made the pages turn quickly. I guarantee that I won't forget what Jessica does to Lord Dain after he leaves her to weather the scandal on her own. The only thing better than my own surprise and delight at the scene was being witness to Lord Dain's shock.

Lord Dain was such a complicated character. He was amused by Jessica's description of him as sensitive, but she was right on the mark. The events of his childhood definitely shaped him as a man. Because of the cruelty he experienced it was very hard for him to believe that anyone, let alone Jessica, would be able to love him. I felt so bad for him as a child. I may not admire what he spends his time doing as a man, but I can understand how he would transform from that lonely little boy into Lord Beelzebub. I could see why he kept pushing Jessica away, even though it annoyed me. I enjoyed the fact that Lord Dain hated it when Jessica changed her attitude to give him what he seemed to want. I was amused that he missed the old abrasive Jessica.

I wasn't really impressed with the storyline surrounding Lord Dain's mother. I didn't believe or sympathize with Jessica's reasoning for her leaving. Why would he be safer with someone who she was desperate to escape? It didn't make sense to me. Also, I thought the convoluted plot to cause trouble for Lord Dain at the end of the book was a bit ridiculous. The event that caused the person behind the plot to put it into motion was also a bit silly. All that effort just because of that? Lord Dain's turn around toward the boy he called "it" was irritating. I could understand his apathy toward him in the beginning, but I didn't understand his sudden turn around at the inn. I think I would have preferred to see a slower gradual caring develop. It would have seemed more genuine. Those are just minor irritations though. The excellence of the rest of the book definitely outweighed them for me.

I picked this book up on the strength of the reviews at SBTB and various comments that have been made at DA. I'm glad that I did. While I don't think that it was a perfect book, or the best that I've read, I enjoyed the time that I spent immersed in the story. I'll be making it a point to check out other works by this author.