tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764462620169151126.post8077089250221717710..comments2016-04-25T07:38:26.165+01:00Comments on All the Pretty Books: Book Review: A Rogue by Any Other Name (The Rules of Scoundrels #1) - Sarah MacLeanMasanobuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00128039987943942637noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764462620169151126.post-14740549369557901012016-04-13T02:38:15.157+01:002016-04-13T02:38:15.157+01:00This book is the only one by Sarah MacLean that I ...This book is the only one by Sarah MacLean that I have read, and I was a bit disappointed in it. I should try another by her at some point. Anyway, I got into romance a couple of years ago, and will second Jenny's recommendation of Courtney Milan. My particular favorites are her novella The Governess Affair, and Proof By Seduction. I also recommend Mary Balogh's The Escape (which is somewhere in the middle of a series, but I read it out of order and it wasn't a problem.) Christy (A Good Stopping Point)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07197508098706711940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764462620169151126.post-480306455645833352016-04-06T17:29:18.029+01:002016-04-06T17:29:18.029+01:00I've heard good things about this author, but ...I've heard good things about this author, but the tropes you mention would definitely bother me too. I agree completely with what you said about romance novels and sex scenes as well. I've been surprised by the fact that most are integral to the plot, not just gratuitous titillation, and I definitely think it takes talent to write them well. I also am having trouble giving up my snobbishness though. I recently picked up the second book in a romance series I enjoyed and I had hard time talking myself into reading it when I had all these more literary or more serious reads around to choose from. This is despite the fact that I've generally been pleasantly surprised by how much romances make me think about important topics, such as gender dynamics and different types of relationships, as you discussed so well here.DoingDeweyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09902496432225294188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764462620169151126.post-43329343179878393742016-04-06T01:06:42.058+01:002016-04-06T01:06:42.058+01:00Aw, it makes me happy that you liked this! I actua...Aw, it makes me happy that you liked this! I actually was surprised when I read this that it made use of the tropes you're flagging, because that is honestly unusual for this author. Her other books generally don't do that, for what that's worth, and I am very fond of the other books in this series as well as the books in her first series.<br /><br />RECOMMENDATIONS OH GOSH. Courtney Milan's Unveiled. Rose Lerner's Listen to the Moon. And see what you think of those. And more Sarah MacLean. And Joanna Bourne if you like spy stories.Jenny @ Reading the Endhttp://readingtheend.comnoreply@blogger.com