What drew you to focus on gaming hells, a little-known aspect of Regency life? Temple, the Killer Duke, is a famous fighter at the Fallen Angel, a gambling club that features prominently in this series. which is why I’m so drawn to it as a story. Writing heroines who have to travel this path feels authentic to me. Mara puts on a good face, but it takes her much of the book to believe in her own power and strength. Not all of my heroines start the book this way-in fact, none of them do. Her journey is one of becoming empowered, of gaining strength through love and partnership. She’s the hero of the story, and, at the end, she wins. Romance is, at its core, a heroine’s journey. Like your other female characters, Mara Lowe is empowered and strong, even during her most intimate scenes. She’s the hero of the story, and, at the end, she wins.' 'Romance is, at its core, a heroine’s journey. In this particular series, I’m also exploring the darker side of London in the early 1800s, which makes everything slightly edgier and even more fun. I love the breathlessness of them-the way that every glance, every touch, every movement can mean something. and historicals were my first love as a reader, so it seemed natural that when I wrote my first book, it would be historical. What is it about this particular era that inspires you? Maclean answered some of our questions about bad boys, Romance snobs, old-school gambling and her ideal date night.Īll three of your Rules of Scoundrels books are set in Pre-Victorian London. Both Temple and Mara are quite complex, and their relationship is not a typical or easy one, but the emotional revelations and forgiveness they find through their love makes this a stand-out read. In an impressive feat, MacLean builds a captivating romantic tension between these two characters despite the anger, conflict and mistrust between them. Yet, just as Temple has resigned himself to his misfortune, Mara resurfaces and offers the one thing he wants most-redemption and absolution. Since then, he’s made his way in London as a boxer at the Fallen Angel, a seedy club where the London elite can exercise their debauchery out of the public eye. After waking to a blood-soaked bed with Mara nowhere to be found, he was cast out from his home and polite society.

It has been 12 years since Temple, the “Killer Duke,” received his infamous title after a night with Mara Lowe-his father’s young bride-to-be-went horribly awry. It's dark, gritty and full of conflicts that are heightened by the pre-Victorian setting, but the emotional depth will have you struggling to put it down. MacLean continues her Rules of Scoundrels series with No Good Duke Goes Unpunished. This best-selling author holds a history degree from Harvard, and she just so happens to love stories that involve a good amount of smooching, and she’s not about to apologize for it.

When Sarah MacLean writes a historical romance, you can bet she does her research.

Sarah maclean temple