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Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean, book cover

Book 1 of 3 in Love by Numbers

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

by Sarah MacLean

Spice 4 out of 5, Spicy4/5 · Spicy: Explicit

A lady does not smoke cheroot. She does not ride astride. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen's club.Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried—and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she's vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she's been missing.But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss—to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston—charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.If she's not careful, she'll break the most important rule of all—the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love . . .

Spice
4/5
Burn
Medium
Pages
~400
Ending
HEA

KU Is it on Kindle Unlimited? Check on Amazon

How spicy is Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake?

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake is a 4 out of 5 on our spice scale: spicy (explicit). Explicit, detailed scenes and several of them. The famous "perfect 4": real plot, real smut. Spice starts around the middle.

  • Steam: Explicit open door
  • Burn: Medium burn
  • When: Spice starts around the middle
  • Pairing: One man, one woman
  • POV: Third person, dual POV (both leads)
  • Ending: Happily ever after

Content warnings

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Show 2 content warnings
  • Slut-shaming
  • Graphic violence

Our editorial notes, which may be incomplete. If something is a hard limit for you, check the author's own content notes too.

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    Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake: quick answers

    How spicy is Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake?

    Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake is a 4 out of 5 on our spice scale: spicy (explicit). Explicit, detailed scenes and several of them. The famous "perfect 4": real plot, real smut. Spice starts around the middle.

    Is Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake a standalone?

    No. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake is book 1 of 3 in Love by Numbers. It is the place to start. The series is complete.

    What tropes are in Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake?

    Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake features smart / nerdy heroine, bad boy, regency. It is a medium burn M/F romance that ends with a happily ever after.

    Does Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake have content warnings?

    Our notes for Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake include: slut-shaming, graphic violence. This list may not be complete; check the author's own content notes if anything is a hard limit for you.

    What should I read after Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake?

    If you loved Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, try A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean, Wicked and the Wallflower by Sarah MacLean, Rule by Jay Crownover. They share its smart / nerdy heroine and bad boy energy at a similar spice level.