One Good Earl Deserves a Lover

By: Sarah MacLean

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Lady Philippa Marbury is...odd.

The brilliant, bespectacled daughter of a double marquess cares more for books than balls, for science than the season, and for laboratories than love. She's looking forward to marrying her simple fiancé and living out her days quietly with her dogs and her scientific experiments. But before that, Pippa has two weeks to experience all the rest - 14 days to research the exciting parts of life. It's not much time, and to do it right she needs a guide familiar with London's darker corners.

She needs...a Scoundrel.

She needs Cross, the clever, controlled partner in London's most exclusive gaming hell, with a carefully crafted reputation for wickedness. But reputations often hide the darkest secrets, and when the unconventional Pippa boldly propositions him, seeking science without emotion, she threatens all he works to protect. He is tempted to give Pippa precisely what she wants...but the scoundrel is more than he seems, and it will take every ounce of his willpower to resist giving the lady more than she ever imagined.

©2013 Sarah Trabucchi (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

Originally borrowed, now bought

I love Pippa and Cross! The heroine is very feminist. Sarah MacLean books always have fiery scenes and this one does not disappoint! This book has one of my favorite hot & heavy scenes EVER.

Perfection!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely , this was a wonderful book and a great experience . I would even recommend it to someone who is not usually a fan of Regency era London romances and know that they would totally agree . l will most definitely listen to it again...

What did you like best about this story?

I found that I was very quickly drawn into the story, loving and hurting and laughing with the characters as if I knew them all in person.

Have you listened to any of Rosalyn Landor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Oh yes... I know that I can always count on her. She is masterful at giving each character its individuality and personality. Not once do you ever have to wonder which characters voice that is. She is amazingly distinct... I forever wonder how she does it! All you hear is the story, the people, the emotions.... with Rosalyn Landor's performance you hear and live the story, not listen to a narrator.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Indeed! I laughed out loud, wiped tears from my cheeks, got angry and frustated, felt elation and despair... good tears, mad tears, sad tears, and gloriously happy tears!

Any additional comments?

I listen to (and read) a LOT of romance books and regency era London is my favorite. However I find that I truly enjoy most books but there is one here or there that really winds me into the tale. Once in a while the story drags you so totally into it that you really literally and absolutely FEEL the story. This is one of those!

☆☆Word of warning☆☆.. this author has two books on audio at the moment and when I read the summary for the other one I discovered it was the first in a series and that this was supposed to be second....

A wonderful book..

What about Rosalyn Landor’s performance did you like?

She did an awesome job! This is only my 3rd or 4th book in which I listened to Rosalyn Landor and with the exception of Then Came You she's a good narrator.

Any additional comments?

LOL.. One reviewer gave this book 3 stars because Penelope and Bourne weren't in it enough. That's just crazy. This was Pippa and Cross/Jasper's story. Why would Penelope and Bourne be in it at all? This was a wonderful story and I loved every single word of it. Pippa was a scientist and Cross was needed for her study on how to entice her husband-to-be. I loved her silliness and her clumsiness. I loved Cross' angst and his feelings that he wasn't good enough for Pippa and even if he didn't kiss her until 68% he did a whole lot more without touching her. It was spectacular! I recommend this and A Rogue by any Other Name to all romance readers who like great sex in their books and great stories of love and romance.

Cute story, but not a unique concept

3.5 Star
My second book by Sarah MacLean and the second book in the Rules of Scoundrels series, this installment follows the brilliant financial keeper of the Fallen Angel, Cross, and the odd but equally intelligent, Philippa.

Phillipa is a unique female in that she values logic and reasoning rather than emotions to guide her through life's decisions. Knowing the expectations of the society in which she lives in, she agrees to marry Lord Castleton even though she has no desire or understanding of the physical marital workings. She is honorable in her prospective duties as a wife and the vows she will take and thus seeks experience and tutelage in the art or love, desire, and whatever is required of her as a wife. She sets her sights on Mr. Cross for the sole reason that his reputation paints him as an expert in the field in which she seeks knowledge.

Cross is a ladies man, or at least that's what's commonly thought of him. He is quick witted and intelligent, but he has a past that seems to hold him hostage to guilt.

This was cute and exactly what you would expect given the synopsis. I didn't enjoy the novel as much as the first installment because there really wasn't anything overly different about the story (compared to other HR novels with similar premises). However, as an addition to the series, it does have good qualities to add.

Narrator: Rosalyn Landor
Performance: 5/5
I've listen to many historical romance novels read by Landor and she does an excellent job narrating the characters and the accents. She is easy to listen to although as a rule, my audio books are almost always played at 1.5x normal speed.

Odd Narration

Would you consider the audio edition of One Good Earl Deserves a Lover to be better than the print version?

Absolutely not. One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is my favorite Sarah MacLean novel -- and I bought the audiobook to experience it again. The narrator's interpretation is much less funny and much more breathless than the book itself. Pippa has a spine in the book and in the narration...she sounds like a total baby! Also, Cross is so MEAN-sounding. And he was clever and funny in the book. The reader just...missed the mark.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Pippa is one of the best heroines in romance. Hands down.

Would you be willing to try another one of Rosalyn Landor’s performances?

No. It was a terrible interpretation. Sarah MacLean's books are hilariously funny -- and this reading seemed as though the narrator didn't read the book ahead of time and notice all those funny moments.

Any additional comments?

Read the book if you can. Skip the audio.

People who say they do not lie are not truthful

I did like this book, from the reviews I thought it would be better. My biggest stumbling block with this book is Pippa. I tried to like her but she put me off with her truthiness. She is like a harpy with Cross. The constant repetition of head thoughts was annoying. This could have been 8 hours instead of 12. The women characters are most important to me. The last third was the most successful as it had a lot less of in her/his head b/s and it finally revealed his story. I liked it when she stops lying to herself about what she is doing.

Great characters

Really loved the main characters, both Cross and Pippa were smart, funny, and complex. I hated a secondary story that I never felt Cross would fall for. The end will satisfy! I loved the 1st book in the series, enjoyed this one, and will read the next one.

Winner Winner Winner

Winner on every count. The ever amazing Sarah MacLean has created a beautiful love story. I love this series and can't wait for the next audiobook to come out. This series is about men who own an upper class gaming hell in London. Each one has a story. Book 1 was Bourne...excellent story. Book 2 One Good Earl was the best so far. I love Cross and Pippa. He's a very intelligent man and she a blue stocking. What a duo they make.
There are some very steamy scenes but one scene is so breath taking and the man never even touches her.
Usually, it's a man saving a woman. The writer has turned the tables on this one. What a heroine Lady Phillipa is too. I don't want to give anything away but she is awesome. She does over think things but she's adorable
This series is well worth the money. My favorite so far in the series. I'm thinking this is going to be my favorite period. I guess we'll see what comes of Temple, he's the next book.

Not as good as the first one

This one was okay. I liked the first book better. The writing was better.

The Second is the Best

Would you listen to One Good Earl Deserves a Lover again? Why?

This is an absolutely wonderful book. You will listen over and over. Pippa is refreshing and adorable.

What did you like best about this story?

There was a fresh story line. I enjoyed it so much.

Have you listened to any of Rosalyn Landor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I love all of Rosaln Landor's books but this is definitely one of my favorites.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

One of my favorite moments in this book is when Pippa convinces Cross to help her with her experiment.

Any additional comments?

Love it. You will to.