Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    One Good Earl Deserves a Lover
    One Good Earl Deserves a Lover
    One Good Earl Deserves a Lover
    Audiobook12 hours

    One Good Earl Deserves a Lover

    Written by Sarah MacLean

    Narrated by Rosalyn Landor

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    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—fourteen 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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJan 29, 2013
    ISBN9780062220448
    One Good Earl Deserves a Lover
    Author

    Sarah MacLean

    A life-long romance reader, Sarah MacLean wrote her first romance novel on a dare, and never looked back. She is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of romances translated into more than twenty languages, a romance columnist, and the co-host of the weekly romance novel podcast, Fated Mates. A graduate of Smith College and Harvard University, she lives in New York City.

    More audiobooks from Sarah Mac Lean

    Related to One Good Earl Deserves a Lover

    Titles in the series (4)

    View More
    View More

    Related audiobooks

    Historical Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Four Of A Kind

      May 3, 2023

      Four Of A Kind
      4 min read

    • Article

      5 New Fantasy Novels Invigorate Old Tropes

      May 18, 2023

      Spell books, dragons, mermaids, fairies and a magic circus all take on new life in the pages of these five enchanting tales hitting shelves in May and June.

      5 min read

    • Article

      HERNAN BAS New and Recent Work

      Dec 15, 2018

      HERNAN BAS New and Recent Work
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Chicken Line

      Mar 4, 2024

      The Chicken Line
      14 min read

    • Article

      STEPPING Out

      Feb 26, 2020

      STEPPING Out
      10 min read

    • Article

      Left To Lose

      Jul 10, 2022

      Around the time she gives up her name, it starts to feel like this entire revolution isn’t worth it anymore. The world is probably lucky that Kelian—she still remembers Kelian, in spite of everything—is there to pick up the pieces, the way he always

      11 min read

    • Article

      'Dunbar' Is A Moving, Brutal And Apt Update Of 'King Lear'

      Oct 5, 2017

      For centuries, Shakespeare's tragedy was too painful for audiences; it was performed with an altered happy ending. But Edward St. Aubyn has never flinched at inflicting pain on his readers.

      4 min read

    • Article

      Pats On The Back

      Dec 12, 2019

      I AM writing this column from a prone position. Reclining on my sofa in the library, propped up with cushions like some latter-day Lady Ottoline Morrell, but without the wit, brilliance and patronage. I wish I could say my current condition arose fro

      3 min read

    • Article

      10 Literary Witches To Hex Trump

      Mar 24, 2017

      In case you hadn’t heard, witches across America—including Lana Del Rey—are uniting to take down Trump via a binding spell, which calls on the spirits to keep the President from doing harm (it already seems to be working). Covens, communities, and so

      5 min read

    • Article

      Book Club

      May 25, 2022

      Book Club
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Bridle

      Oct 10, 2021

      Saliva pooled on her tongue beneath the rusty depressor. She endured a constant urge to swallow, afraid of choking on her own fluids. The taste of metal and blood are so akin, it is easy to mistake one for the other. This early in the day, blood was

      11 min read

    • Article

      Scoundrel’s Lair

      Jul 9, 2023

      Scoundrel’s Lair
      5 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Apr 22, 2022

      Books
      4 min read

    • Article

      Table Talk in Austenworld

      May 17, 2018

      There are two traits in her character which are pleasing; namely, she admires Camilla, and drinks no cream in her tea. —Jane Austen in a letter to Cassandra, January 1796 The company was seated for dinner on the second night of the camp, and as we di

      5 min read

    • Article

      Book Club

      May 21, 2020

      Book Club
      4 min read

    • Article

      Liar, Liar

      Apr 4, 2021

      Liar, Liar
      7 min read

    • Article

      Australia Reads At Home

      May 18, 2020

      Australia Reads At Home
      7 min read

    • Article

      The Only Rule

      Jul 13, 2020

      There is only one rule in polite English society, but it is iron clad. Of course, polite English society is a fiction. For one thing, its members are rarely polite. Politeness is for the middle classes rather than those who live off ancestral acres o

      5 min read

    • Article

      Echos

      Jan 10, 2019

      Before Corrine’s husband abandoned her in Berlin, he liked to say that her name reminded him of the word “corrupt.” But ending in a twist rather than a split. Her last name was the French word for “swimsuit” but he never mentioned that. This seemed s

      17 min read

    • Article

      A Year in Reading: Tim Lane

      Dec 8, 2021

      We stopped at the Topaz Internment Camp, where my wife’s family was held during World War II, near the tiny town of Delta, Utah. We found the apocalyptic remnants of one of our country’s great shames. The post A Year in Reading: Tim Lane appeared fi

      7 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for One Good Earl Deserves a Lover

    4/5

    421 ratings40 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Although this book didn't win the RITA award like its siblings, but in my opinion it is the funniest in the series! I just love Pippa. My most favourite of the series.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Pippa Marbury needs the facts. She is to be married soon and has no idea how marital...er, relations are carried out. Hearing lots of gossip about the legendary Cross and his prowess, Pippa decides he would make the most excellent research partner. For his part, Cross is completely flummoxed. Never before had a lady entered his private quarters asking such intimate and frank questions! Making matters worse, sparks immediately fly between the two, which is a huge problem since Pippa is the sister-in-law of one of Cross' business partners.In an attempt to protect Pippa from scandal, Cross at first sends Pippa away but eventually succumbs and decides it would be safer if he provided the answers she sought. The attraction between the two is intense, the sexual tension almost like torture. This made for some very steamy scenes and an even greater love story. That's about all I can say about the plot without giving away too much.What makes this book so great are the characters. Pippa is a scientist, logical in thinking and direct in communication. Cross finds this quite refreshing, as he's never met a woman who challenges him quite like she does. Cross definitely has his own set of demons to overcome on the path to happily ever after, but he was such a gentleman throughout and it made him far more likable than the previous book's hero Bourne. I even loved the supporting cast of characters. Chase was such a meddler, Olivia was fantastic as the spoiled younger sister, and Castleton actually surprise me in the end. Across the board, this book was just the romance genre at it's best.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Very nice story! Loved the narrator, loved the plot and loved how she saved him!
    • 5/5
      best sarah maclean book and one of the best of the genre
    • 2/5
      First I fell asleep, then my eyes were rolling in my head — and not from tiredness. The dialogue was so corny and juvenile, it insults the listeners intelligence. The delivery (narrator) didn’t help.
    • 5/5
      I loved the adventure & the romance. I really enjoy your characters.
    • 5/5
      Totally love fhis author. Her books are great. I am going to read the while series if they are availble.
    • 4/5
      Pippa is within two weeks of getting married, to a good man but doesn't excite her. She is beyond curious about intimacy in the bedchamber, and she hasn't even been kissed by her fiancee, she is desperate to know as much as possible. Pippa has always been fascinated with the world around her, and has made it her mission to learn as much as she can, goes everywhere with a book in her hand. Pippa knows that she is a bit odd to others, but she craves knowledge. So she goes to "The Fallen Angel" and seeks out Cross, who is more than able to give her the information she needs. Cross has the reputation of being a scoundrel with the ladies, with more than enough experience, and is one of the four partners in the gaming hell. Cross is curious when Pippa bursts into his office, and insists that he teaches her about sexual matters. At first he doesn't know how to respond to her, she is a proper lady and engaged to be married, and attempts to distract her from her purpose and protect her from scandal. Before long though he finds her too irristable and finds that he wants her for herself. Pippa knows what she wants, and Cross keeps distracting her, and takes her on a battle of wits and wills and before she knows it she finds herself falling in love with a man who is not her fiancee. Who will win this battle of love....I could hardly put this one down....it was such a sexy and entertaining read to the very end. Sarah Maclean has such talent with her stories and this one definitely didn't disappoint in any way. There was such a sense of fun and playfulness between this couple, and even though there wasn't a huge conflict involved, there was enough opposition in the book that it keeps you on your toes. I found Pippa to be the type of character that you aren't sure if you are going to like, but end up liking her more and more. She is beyond smart, and for those of us in the modern world, her uniqueness would be considered normal. However back in the 1800's, it was far from normal. Pippa takes it all in stride, how others look at her, most view her as "odd". However Cross responds to her Cleverness in such a way that made me love him more. Cross is your typical alpha male type, has a very tough exterior, but is not the normal rakish type. He keeps trying to resist Pippa constantly because he knows there is no future for him with her. However Pippa is beyond stubborn and keeps coming back to him despite his efforts to keep her from him. I found this couple to be unique to their situation. The love connection between Cross and Pippa was poignant and heartbreaking at times. I just loved how their story progresses and builds and the conclusion was just about PERFECT. I really enjoyed how this story is brought to life to this reader in such a way that it provoked a feeling of warmth and tenderness. The plot had a sense of mystery and intense emotion. Overall a OUTSTANDING romance that kept me up all night reading. A well put together story with characters that completely satisfied me in every way, and a beautiful tale of love and passion that had me from the first page. LOVED EVERY MOMENTFavorite Quotes:She thought him safe. Scientific. Without danger.She was mad.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"Do not tempt the lion," he said, the words brushing across her lips, parting them with their touch. "For he most certainly will bite."~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"I told you to leave me. I told you never to come near me." He leaned in, torturing them both--so close and still an unbearable distance. "But you couldn't resist. You want me to teach you the things you should learn from him. You want my experience. My sin. My kiss. And not his."~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"I want every inch of you...I want your mind and body and soul."
    • 4/5
      2nd in the series.. great read!! love how all the character's interact throughout the series, but each book is focued on a different one as the main character. great little passionate love scenes also.. adults only!
    • 5/5
      Loved the strong heroine. Such a romantic hero who fell hard!
    • 4/5
      I can't quite remember the first one but I'm pretty sure this was better. In any case I'd put this at a 3.5 stars. I liked Phillipa and Cross. They were both intelligent and I liked how their conversations referenced random facts and knowledge. They both seemed to have a lot in common and the romance was mostly enjoyable. The drama was a little bit over the top and I think I remember feeling the same way about the first - maybe it's just how the author writes. Even so, it's a well written story with enjoyable characters and a mostly believable plot, even if a slightly ridiculous one. And I very much enjoyed that Phillipa was the one to save the day.
    • 3/5
      3.5 stars - I think what I’m finding with this series is that they are repetitive and could be edited down by at least 75 pages. The plot in this is completely far fetched but I’m reading romance so don’t expect reality. Like the first book I find the characters are having the same arguments and thoughts throughout and I find myself skimming a bit when this happens. It’s still well written but just isn’t hitting the high notes for me.
    • 4/5
      This one is Cross and Philippa. Let's hear it for heroines with spectacles and lots of brains!
    • 4/5
      2nd read- I just felt like revisiting this series. Generally I think MacLean has gotten better since these books, but they're still entertaining. (Except the third book, I'm skipping it because my dislike for the heroine somehow outweighs even my fondness of that hero. Once was enough on that one.) I enjoy these two both being intellectuals, often it's just one of the pair, but it's nice to see the compatibility here. And it's fun to watch them try to resist the other and fail. =D
    • 4/5
      This romance made for fun reading and I especially liked seeing a woman focused on science (and wearing glasses!) be the central figure in a romance. Lady Philippa Marbury is planning to wed an earl, but first she determines she's in need of some instruction on marriage and the activities it involves. So she seeks out Cross, a notorious scoundrel, to help her with this "research". Bold about what she wants, Philippa makes for fun and sometimes funny reading. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I appreciated the lighter reading it offered.
    • 5/5
      Spicy scene in chapter 11
    • 4/5
      This is the second book in Sarah MacLean's "Rules of Scroundels" Quartet. While you don’t have to read a Rogue by Any Other Name first, the reader will understand the concept of The Fallen Angel and meet the four individual owners who will each be featured in a book of their own.

      Bespectacled and serious, Lady Philippa Marbury is not a complete success. She's very interested in science and horticulture, but not so much the ballroom. She has no qualms with challenging the dictates of society, much to the dismay of her aristocratic family.

      She is very innocent about men, and has never even been kissed by her fiance. As her wedding approaches, she’d determined to face the bedroom with the same level of knowledge she gives to every other part of her life. She proposes to hire notorious London gaming club owner and rumored rake, Cross, to be her research partner in “ruination.”

      Cross is the brooding, mysterious bookkeeper of The Fallen Angel, London’s most notorious and coveted gaming hell. He is also tortured and consumed by events in his past. Cross is both baffled and enthralled by Pippa.

      MacLean always writes such vivid characters, and I found Pippa and Cross to be so much fun. I loved their conversations together and laughed several times. Pippa is one of my favorite heroines and I thought this was a great book.
    • 4/5
      These are such fun romances. Sarah MacLean does a wonderful job of writing characters that I love. They make me smile, laugh, cry and love. If all romances were this good, romance would be the top genre in America.
    • 5/5
      Wow. I empathized with Lady Phillipa perhaps a bit too much. I ached every time she touched on how something that happened was a rejection of her due to her oddness. I rooted so hard for this OTP to have the HEA, and I cried a lot on the way there. MacLean has an immense talent for characterization. Off to book three!
    • 4/5
      A delight. Slow to start, and it took me a bit to warm up to Pippa, but once I did I loved this sweet story.
    • 3/5
      This was good. Not as good as the other MacLean books I've read but still enjoyable.

      As always features great writing and a fun plot.
    • 5/5
      One Good Earl Deserves a Lover
      5 Stars

      According to Society, Lady Phillippa Marbury is “odd". But for Pippa, her inquisitive mind and scientific approach to life has always served her in good stead. So, it is not unusual that she should approach the most renowned lover in London to serve as her research “assistant” when she is in need of instruction on the intricacies of the marriage bed.

      Jasper Arsley aka Cross, one of the 4 notorious owners of The Fallen Angel casino, is astounded when Pippa propositions him and will do anything and everything in his power to dissuade her even as he longs to do the exact opposite…

      This is the 2nd book in MacLean’s Rules of Scoundrels series and a significant improvement on the first. Pippa and Cross have a tangible chemistry and their sexual tension simply sizzles on the pages. Pippa with her forthrightness and honesty is an adorable heroine and Cross’s attempts to thwart her lead to some sweet and sexy moments.

      The supporting characters are just as engaging and the secondary plot involving Cross’s arch nemesis lends a certain edgy tension to the romance.

      The next book is Temple’s and I am eager to meet the woman who will bring this stoic giant down a notch or two.
    • 5/5
      This book is worth far more thank 5 stars!!!! It was magnificent! The longing/wanting/need was conveyed to perfection! Someone mentioned breathlessness and yes!! That too!!! I LOVED the characters honesty. Pippa was straightforward and honest throughout the book and I think it was one of the things that made me love every second of this story! Cross was the perfect match for her. He is going into my category of "great leading male" This book is now on my "favourites shelf" and as I had originally bought this series for the next book... I am now unsure of how Ms. MacLean is going to top this!
    • 4/5
      Beautiful as the previous one! I really liked the couple of this new book, the bespectacled Pippa and the red head Cross. They're, in a certain way, more intriguing and complex than Penny and Bourne, more fascinating as individuals and couple.
      I love the way this author tells her stories, the way she works with her characters. She's a very skilled writer.
      I'm looking forward for the third book.
    • 5/5
      I cannot get enough of Sarah MacLean and her Scoundrels! I enjoyed this book so much I'm tempted to go back and re-read it right now. Defintely worth the wait. Loved Pippa and Cross. Pippa's factoids throughout are fantastic and poor, tortured Cross...well, that just makes him a little yummier, in my opinion.
    • 4/5
      I'm trying to decide if this was as good as the first one. I think it's just different. The premise is hilarious. Bluestocking sister engaged to the nice, dependable yawn of a man she's not in love with insists on knowing what to expect on her wedding night. So after thorough consideration, she picks a rake of the first order from her brother in law's gaming hall, breaks in and propositions him. Of course, his intellect is a great match for her and he can't help but be attracted to her brains and brash behavior. Then, after many hijinks and bad guys threatening bad things, they fall in love. The end. :)

      Ok, not quite so simple. And as much as I just made fun of it, it was a tremendously entertaining read. I'm definitely getting the next book in the series.
    • 5/5
      If I could give this book ten stars I would. Love love loved it.
    • 2/5
      This historical romance had a good premise but the majority of the book was characters thoughts. I struggled to keep reading, started skipping big chunks, read a little near the end then gave up. The basic story could have been told in 100 pages or less. Lady Philippa asks gaming hell owner Cross to help with her ruination.
    • 4/5
      I'd read the first in this series, and I liked this one better. Pippa was a fun character. I love it when the heroine isn't perfect, isn't the shining example of feminine beauty and grace (because I can relate- ha!). I also loved that she became the rescuer instead of the rescuee (pretty sure that's not a word, but you know what I mean).
    • 4/5
      Sarah MacLean has been an auto-buy author for me ever since her first book. She has no equal in creating bold, immensely likable heroines. And her heroes aren't bad either.

      For her time and place in society, Pippa is odd, and she knows it. Her mindset is rational, indeed scientific, so it seems perfectly logical to her to seek information about marital relations in advance of her wedding to the conventional Lord Castleton. In addition she clearly has read the marriage rite in the Book of Common Prayer and is worried that she will be making vows before God that she doesn't quite understand. Her mother and sisters are no help at all, so it makes perfect sense, then, to seek instruction from the wickedest man she knows -- her brother-in-law's business partner Cross.

      Cross wants nothing to do with this business, but he finds himself strangely attracted to this odd young lady. Here begins the sensual dance between these two that form the bulk of the plot. And nobody does sexual tension better than Sarah MacLean.

      MacLean also does an excellent job of involving characters from the first book in this series, as well as giving us glimpses of the heroes in the upcoming books. The interplay among the four owners of the Fallen Angel is entertaining and works well within the plot, never seeming like sequel-bait.

      The only thing that kept this from being a five-star read for me is Pippa's clever, but for me unbelievable, scheme at the end. When reading it, I thought it sounded too much like a certain modern movie, so imagine my reaction when the author's note at the end explained that that exact movie was her inspiration. Just didn't work for me.

      But don't let my reservations stop you from reading this utterly charming book.