A LADY'S CODE OF MISCONDUCT is my favorite book thus
far of 2017. Book 5 in the Rules
for the Reckless
series, Meredith Duran once again puts us smack in the
middle of the twisty world of Victorian politics.
Disillusionment, blackmail, and betrayal swirl around our
characters, and provide a deliciously debauched setting for
an inspiring romance.
Jane Mason is a fabulously wealthy orphan who is reduced
to living in her uncle's house, trapped by his greed and
domination. She has been meekly biding her time, but is
now plotting her escape so she can once again live a life
where her opinions and desires are valued. In order to
escape a forced marriage to her despicable cousin and the
loss of her father's fortune, Jane contracts a temporary
bargain with a blackguard who has been scheming with her
uncle to bring about malicious plans in Parliament.
Crispin Burke is that blackguard. A brilliant orator
and crafty statesman, Crispin has been forcing the men
around him to bend to his will in order to come to power as
the Prime Minister. A single moment of hubris shatters
Crispin's life, though, and Jane is his surprisingly
salvation. The lovely thing about many of Duran's books is
her slow redemption of a seemingly unlovable hero. I adore
how Crispin reclaims his character and his humanity. This
is a powerful story of the power of love and forgiveness,
and the process of striving to become a better person.
There are several mysteries or conflicts woven cleverly
through the story; all well-wrought. For me, though, the
crowning glory of this tale is the intelligence of Jane and
Crispin and the witty banter that makes the pages fairly
crackle. The crispness of the descriptions and the
strength of the emotions laid bare make this a riveting
read. Duran's A LADY'S CODE OF MISCONDUCT shows the reader
the depths of depravity and the peaks of sacrificial love,
a complex and satisfying tale.
The next steamy historical romance in USA TODAY
bestselling and RITA award-winning author Meredith
Duran’s “wonderfully indulgent” (Publishers Weekly)
Rules for the Reckless series.
A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL...
Trapped in the countryside, facing an unwanted marriage and
the theft of her fortune, Jane Mason is done behaving
nicely. To win her freedom, she’ll strike a deal with the
most dangerous man she knows—a rising star in politics,
whose dark good looks mask an even darker heart.
...NEVER GOES TO PLAN.
The bitter past has taught Crispin Burke to trust no one.
He’ll gladly help a lovely young heiress, provided she pays
a price. Yet when a single mistake shatters his life, it is
Jane who holds the key to his salvation. And in a world that
no longer makes sense, Crispin slowly realizes that she may
be the only thing worth fighting for...