Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining Historical
Review: In her first title for Avon Books, Julianne MacLean explores England of the late nineteenth century, when aristocrats were compelled to wed American heiresses to fill their rapidly depleted coffers. When Sophia Wilson entered the "marriage mart" in England, her mother expected her to acquire a husband with a title, while she wished to marry for love. Though initially attracted to James Langdon, the Duke of Wentworth, Sophia is warned away from his dark brooding looks by a fellow American heiress who previously landed an earl. While the budding romance between James and Sophia begins as physical attraction, they each appeal to the other as their friendship develops, something that is often omitted in many historicals. Though James desires Sophia, his determination not to let his passions rule his life like his father's cause him to proceed with extreme caution towards his wife after they are wed. Predictably, strife ensues when James keeps Sophia at a distance, and she is determined to show her love to him despite his aloofness. But their formality towards one another exudes just enough romantic tension as to propel the story line, not overtake it. Readers can eagerly look forward to the next installment in this series with Sophia's younger sister, Clara, being the next American heiress heroine.
Rating: 
Summary: An Author to Watch...and Read!
Review: It was a match made much lower than heaven! "The Dangerous Duke" of Wentworth needed his new bride's fortune, and he assumed she wanted from him what other American heiresses wanted from indebted British aristocrats -- a title. But Sophia was after more than that. She would settle for nothing less than her bridegroom's heavily guarded heart. Julianne MacLean is a new Avon author to watch. She combines the sensuality and deep passion of Stephanie Laurens with the sparkling dialogue of Christina Dodd. Her heroine is a real treat -- a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to fight for it!
Rating:
Summary: Outstandingly Refreshing
Review: London, 1881 -Miss Sophia Wilson, beautiful, intelligent, wealthy, and in search of a title was being presented by the Countess of Lansdowne, another transplanted American, to the English aristocracy. The English aristocracy that had much in the way of titles but dwindling wealth to support the oftentimes-decaying estates where vast land acreage no longer supported the required upkeep. Feeling as though she had jumped from the frying pan into the fire, Sophia was determined to marry for love, no matter what title her dear mama would try to force upon her. As fate would have it, across the crowded room, a hush fell, a body moved, and Sophia gazed upon a work of art - the most devastatingly handsome man, His Grace, the Duke of Wentworth. The whispers began again, with Sophia hearing 'dangerous duke', nightmare, heartbreaker, stay away etc. James, the Duke of Wentworth, had vowed to never marry, to control his baser instincts, and dark passionate nature inherited from his ancestors that would drag him into a dark inhuman hell on earth. Keeping to himself as he did, he could not but be impressed by the very stunning, vivacious, and 'wealthy' American and as Sophia glanced up and caught his gaze their eyes met and locked in titillating moment of acknowledgement. And so the die was cast.... This was my introduction to one of the finest books I have had the pleasure to read this year. The very sensual layers of imagery laid the foundation of what would become one of the more pleasurable love stories I have read with refreshingly bright, intelligent and original dialogs. I started smiling from the very first chapter and thoroughly enjoyed the courtship. Soon enough the honeymoon was over and when James reverted to a 'beastly' cool English peer of the realm, Sophia continued to love him and had her work cut out to act the part of his 'Duchess' but in her own estimable way, and perseverance she brought him, and his family, back from darkness into a world of light and love! This was a truly outstanding romance and one I can highly recommend. Do keep your tissues handy when you get toward the very moving and sensual ending!
Rating:
Summary: An emotional and satisfying read
Review: No wonder this book is selling like hotcakes! TO MARRY THE DUKE is fabulous! My eyes are red and gritty from reading too long - I just could not put it down! The sexual awareness sizzles between the beautiful American heiress, Sophia, and her impoverished English duke, James, throughout their courtship. But the real love story begins once they return from their honeymoon. Can the warm-hearted, generous Sophia break through her husband's frosty aristocratic reserve to find true love? Or did he really marry her for her dowry? An emotional and deeply satisfying read!
Rating:
Summary: Wow! Sensual, hard to put down, great!
Review: Sophia and James had a beautiful and fascinating story. I cried at the end even though it was completely happy -- the story was that involved for me (and I rarely cry). This should be a best-selling author. Her books are keepers. I can not wait for the promised sequel about Sophia's sister. (From someone who has read hundreds or probably over a thousand novels by now...)
Rating: 
Summary: Average rehash of a tired theme
Review: The author says she read "The Buccaneers" by Edith Wharton, and you can save some money by just reading the original classic. It's the usual too-handsome hero with a wounded past, marrying the too-beautiful and so-wealthy heroine. Decades of misunderstandings are cleared up in a trice by her charm and brave forebearance. Standard sex scenes and the let's-make-everybody-happy ending complete another run-of-the-mill historical.
Rating: 
Summary: Really wooden
Review: The dialogue creaks and churns, the 'spark' between the couple flickers and dies, and the two people are really not very likeable. James is wooden, a duke who does what all day? They are supposed to be betrothed for two months, yet the supposed sizzle is contained for that long? And they hardly know each other, we never get to see his family?
The whole blackmail thing is predictable and trite.
James' cruelty is inexusable, as is his lack of explanaion to his wife.
The whole latter half of the book is a tragedy of errors and i ca't honestly say I know enough about these characters at the end to be interested in them enough to figure out why they fell in love. Or care.
Her second book is a lot better, sexy and witty. This one was passable, a tried and tested formula that in this case has the emotional intensity of a log.
Rating: 
Summary: Eh...this one just didn't do it for me.
Review: The heroine is supposed to be a feisty American. She is certainly headstrong and tough in the beginning. But after she marries the hero, she becomes this wet noodle. She apologizes for things that HE did wrong and simpers in his presence. Not my idea of a tough American gal. The heroine basically begs for sex from this guy knowing he doesn't love her. She is just the epitome of a woman with no self-respect. The hero is so emotionally detached that it is hard to even like him a little. He finally comes around in the end, but by that time you dislike him so much you don't care anymore. The subplot about the Madame from France was silly, but I guess the story needed some spice. Definitely not my favorite, but I guess it was okay.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing, but entertaining
Review: The story was entertaining but that is about all you can say. The heroine, in particular, was not believable for the time period. This might have worked as a time-travel romance in which an assertive, 20th century, American woman gets transported back to Regency England. Still, it was sufficiently entertaining, and the characters were sufficiently likeable (not well developed, could have used more depth) that I decided to buy the sequel, AN AFFAIR MOST WICKED. Big mistake. If this book's heroine did not fit the historical period, the sequel's heroine was a joke. Not only is she unbelivable, she is annoying, spoiled, rude, impulsive--they don't get much more irritating that this.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Debut!
Review: This was a good debut and I look forward to reading more from this author. Sophia is an American that has come to England in search of a title, but she really wants more and that is to find love. She sets her sight on the Black Duke James Langdon, the Duke of Wentworth. She finds him romantic and dashing and soon finds herself in love. But James changes once the "I do's" are said. Why??? James Langdon must marry money if he is going to fix the family fortunes. He meets the bold American heiress and instantly feels something for her. She is not impress with his title, but the man himself. He has a dark family past and he will not allow his base needs to affect his judgement. Still he is attracted to Sophia and knows that they only way to get her out of his system is to marry her, have her, and then leave her behind. Problem with this plan is he wants her more after he marries her, and as for leaving her behind, well...she adjust despite the problems of a difficult mother-in-law and what seems to be an indifferent husband. James is impressed with this and finds himself drawn to her sweet goodness. Maybe love will save him instead of destroying him This was a good debut novel. Very sweet and I felt that the characters were rather engaging. I look forward to Clara'story. Do yourself a favor and add this book to your summer reading list.
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