Review: The Art of Sinning by Sabrina Jeffries (2015)

Format: Mass market paperback
Pub Date: August 2015
Publisher: Pocket
Length: 373 pages
POV: 3rd, past
FTC: Received for free at RT16 Convention

The Art of Sinning takes place within the expanded circle of characters from Jeffries' last series of novels, but is delightfully different. The hero is an American, an artist, and a widower—although that last part is a bit of a secret to all of his distant English relatives. The heroine is extremely tall, aristocratic, outspoken, and collects street cant for her slang dictionaries.

 The set up is a bit unusual, too, because there are multiple motivations going on: Jeremy Keane wants Yvette to model for his new painting. Yvette's brother wants a portrait done to help "sell" his sister's charms to potential suitors. Keane doesn't usually paint portraits, which leads to him scheming with Yvette to do TWO paintings (keeping the second a secret) in exchange for helping her with a potentially dangerous quest of her own. Complicated...and that's just the first few chapters.

Waiting on Wednesday: To Wed a Wild Lord by Sabrina Jeffries

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine. It highlights books we just can't wait to get our greedy book loving hands on.

I've read 3 out of 4 of the books in this series and have liked them all. (I will probably go back and read the one I missed, too.) I have to admit, I'm not a fan of this cover, though.

To Wed a Wild Lord

Format: Mass market paperback, ebook

Pub Date: November 22, 2011

Publisher: Pocket

Length: 384 pages

The Blurb: 

Like everything daredevil Gabriel Sharpe does, pursuing Virginia Waverly is a high-stakes game. Ever since her brother Roger died racing Lord Gabriel, Virginia has yearned to take her revenge on the reckless lord by beating him at his own sport. But when she challenges Lord Gabriel to a race, the hellion who has always embraced his dark reputation as the “Angel of Death” counters with a marriage proposal!

Gabe knows Virginia's family is in dire financial straits—why shouldn’t she marry him and solve both their problems? She claims to be appalled by his proposal, but her response to his kisses says otherwise. So when the two of them begin to unravel the truth behind Roger’s death, Gabe takes the greatest gamble of all, offering the cunning and courageous beauty something more precious than any inheritance: true love.

TBR Challenge Review: How to Woo a Reluctant Lady by Sabrina Jeffries

Publisher: Pocket
Format: Mass Market
FTC: Purchased myself

Why it was in the TBR: I bought this when it first came out in February, got about halfway through it, then set it aside. Not because I didn't like it, but because I got distracted by other authors and shiny newer releases.  Since it fit perfectly with this month's theme, I decided to pull it back out again, saving it from languishing on the "get to eventually" TBR currently residing in boxes.

I read the first book in this series, but not the second. How to Woo a Reluctant Lady (HTWARL) is the 3rd in the "Hellions of Halstead Hall" series. [I'm not sure why, but long pretentious series titles irritate me. Especially multi-syllabic ones with cutesy alliteration. Which is weird, because I usually love alliteration. Anyhoo...] Thankfully, HTWARL is fine as a stand-alone book.

What makes this book is the hero, Giles. He's very intelligent, very arrogant, but also sexy and determined. I loved the trial details and the focus given to his profession. He's a very yummy barrister who *gasp* works for a living. I found that refreshing. I also liked that our heroine, Minerva, grows to understand and respect what he does.

The story is fantastic until about midway through, when it loses steam for some reason. I'm sure that's probably why I ended up putting it aside. It's not bad, but it definitely loses something. Especially when Giles decides to lie to Minerva within a week or so of promising honesty. If he can't keep a promise for a week, how is he supposed to keep his vows for a lifetime?

Overall, though, I enjoyed the book. Especially Giles. Yes, I've said that already, but he is memorable. And that's a rarity these days among the throngs of arrogant historical heroes.Those who dislike Regency or early Victorian spies should avoid, though, as there is a bit of that type of activity in the story.


My Grade: B-

Review: The Truth About Lord Stoneville by Sabrina Jeffries

Sabrina Jeffries starts a new series (after recently concluding her popular School for Heiresses series) with The Truth About Lord Stoneville.  The Hellions of Halstead Hall is about five scandalous siblings who are given an ultimatum by their purse-string-holding grandmother to marry within the year. This is the eldest, Oliver's, story.

I have to say, having read most of Sabrina Jeffries's backlist that this novel was quite a bit darker than most of her other books. The book begins with a nasty murder-suicide. And much of the emotional drama is the natural fallout of that tragedy.

Don't Bargain with the Devil by Sabrina Jeffries

I adore Jeffries's School for Heiresses Series. They are all a little different, but Don't Bargain with the Devil is of a distinctly different mold than others in the series. I adore the hero--Diego, the magician. Not only was he sexy as hell, he was honorable in his way. And appreciative of Lucinda, our heroine, from the very first.

The shifting locales gave this book a different flavor, and the supporting cast of characters were--as usual--well developed and interesting. I found Lucinda to be unusually immature compared to how I imagined someone used to army camps would act. She seemed a bit too naive for me to fully believe in, but I enjoyed her impulsiveness. At least she wasn't simpering and weak.

Overall, this was a fun, quick read with a few less familiar plot twists and themes. It also sets up the finale quite well. I hope Mrs. Harris's story manages to meet or exceed expectations. We'll all find out next month!