What a scoundrel wants, a scoundrel gets...
A decade ago, the Marquess of Bourne was cast from society with nothing but his title. Now a partner in London’s most exclusive gaming hell, the cold, ruthless Bourne will do whatever it takes to regain his inheritance—including marrying perfect, proper Lady Penelope Marbury.
A broken engagement and years of disappointing courtships have left Penelope with little interest in a quiet, comfortable marriage, and a longing for something more. How lucky that her new husband has access to such unexplored pleasures.
Bourne may be a prince of London’s underworld, but he vows to keep Penelope untouched by its wickedness—a challenge indeed as the lady discovers her own desires, and her willingness to wager anything for them... even her heart.
Michael, Marquess of Bourne, lost all he ever had one night in a game of cards. And that night his life made a turn, toward one goal: revenge.
Now a powerful man, co-owner of London's most famous gaming hell, he's prepared to do anything to accomplish his goal, even marry his childhood friend, Lady Penelope Marbury (what a sacrifice XD).
To up her chance in getting married, Penelope's father increased her dowry, with Michael's lost estate. She doesn't really want to get married, well, she does, but out of love. After learning about the dowry, she goes for a walk in the old estate, and comes across Michael But soon her happiness evaporates when said man abducts her and decides to ruin her reputation enough so that she'd have no other choice but to marry him.
Penelope was a means to an end--the path to Michael's revenge. Every time he touched her or showed her the slightest interest, it was for his benefit and his goals. Naturally, Penelope didn't want to be a part of his revenge though. Well, Michael is rather surprised to discover that this woman, this marriage means so much more to him. It scared him.
Michael is an ass. He built an icy cage around himself and he wears it like armor. Anything that made him weak - like for example, having compassion or trusting people - is gone. He is hard, ruthless, and vicious. When Michael is being an ass, it hurts her feelings and she tells him and shows him that her feelings are hurt. That in turns makes Michael feel like an ass, and he doesn't like it.
She thaws him out, piece by piece, and he resists it so hard, that even his friends and co-owners in the gaming hell rub his nose in the fact that he is screwed up. Michael does have a change of heart in the middle of the book.
Penelope was awesome. She had backbone and adventurous spirit, and she didn't put up with any of Michael's crap.
A Rogue by Any Other Name is a wonderfully penned and witty historical romance. I love this book. I love the cover. I love the writing.
