 Soon after its release , the book also won accolades from other award bodies , including " Best Historical Single Title Romance " by Romance Readers Anonymous and " Best Historical Romance " by Reader 's Voice . In 2014 , romance novelist Madeline Hunter recalled Lord of Scoundrels being " the ' must read ' of the season " when it was published in 1995 , and described it as " witty , heartfelt , with a flawed hero and an indomitable heroine , [ and with ] pacing so perfect a reader could only hold on for the ride . It was no surprise that a book that pushed so many peoples ' happy buttons ended up winning a RITA that year . I think there would have been a revolt if it had not " . 
