Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase

So, I wanted to try another Romance, because I keep reading blogs where the Romance stories are great! I saw this book on a couple of sites as a "favorite" and decided to give it a try....Loved it!!

Lord Dain is a rake who had a rough childhood (mother abandoned him and ran off with another man, father couldn't bear to look at him and sent him off to boarding school where he was teased mercilessly) and as an adult drinks, gambles, and womanizes. He meets the sister of a friend, who is trying to get her brother away from Lord Dain's bad influences. There is some attraction between them that they both deny. Then, they finally act on their feelings and are discovered. He thinks it's a set-up by her to blackmail him for money, while she thinks he means to ruin her reputation as a lady. She retaliates by shooting him!!! Through a series of legal maneuvers, she is able to sue him for ruining her reputation, so he decides if he's going to have to pay her he might as well get his money's worth and tells her she must marry him or get nothing at all. She calls his bluff and they are married. There are several more surprises after the wedding, as at that point they both barely tolerate each other. A former flame, an illegitemate child, traiterous friends, this book's got it all! Ms. Chase wraps up the ending in a nice, tidy bow. A very good read.

One of the things I liked about this book is that it didn't end at the wedding. I enjoyed watching them grow to care for each other and support each other. Apparently I'm a sucker for a romance that starts off with the hero and heroine detesting each other. (Come on, the first time I laid eyes on my husband and his friends I told my friend we needed to avoid them at all costs!! 17 years later I'm glad we didn't!)