Book Review: Duke of sin by Elizabeth Hoyt

Duke of Sin by Elizabeth Hoyt

(Maiden Lane series)

  

Publisher & Release: Grand Central Publishing, May 31, 2016

Time and setting: 1741, London

Genre: Historical Romance/Georgian

Length: 360 pages

Heat Level: 2 Flames

Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

A MAN OF SIN

Devastatingly handsome. Vain. Unscrupulous. Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is the man London whispers about in boudoirs and back alleys. A notorious rake and blackmailer, Montgomery has returned from exile, intent on seeking revenge on those who have wronged him. But what he finds in his own bedroom may lay waste to all his plans.

 A WOMAN OF HONOR

 Born a bastard, housekeeper Bridget Crumb is clever, bold, and fiercely loyal. When her aristocratic mother becomes the target of extortion, Bridget joins the Duke of Montgomery’s household to search for the incriminating evidence-and uncovers something far more dangerous.

 A SECRET THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY THEM BOTH

Astonished by the deceptively prim-and surprisingly witty-domestic spy in his chambers, Montgomery is intrigued. And try as she might, Bridget can’t resist the slyly charming duke. Now as the two begin their treacherous game of cat and mouse, they soon realize that they both have secrets-and neither may be as nefarious-or as innocent-as they appear . . .

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Duke-Maiden-Lane-Elizabeth-Hoyt-ebook/dp/B015NRKJRI

Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Duke-of-Sin-Audiobook/B01DDYSLOQ/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srTtl?qid=1464706320&sr=1-1

Add to Goodreads:

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26804433-duke-of-sin

Vikki’s Musings

I have been a fan of Elizabeth Hoyt’s Maiden Lane series ever since the first one was published. When I found Duke of Sin on Net-Galley, I immediately requested it in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoy this book!

Bastard daughter of a lady, Bridget Crumb is the housekeeper to the notorious Duke of Montgomery. He’s amoral, a blackmailer, a man without a heart. Determined to foil his plan to blackmail her mother, she searches his chamber for the evidence he holds against her.

Valentine Napier is a troubled man, scarred by his childhood. He is determined to never fall in love. After all, then he would have to kill her because love kills. That was the message he learned at an early age, one he will never forget.

Their secrets should forever keep them apart, but the passion they feel for one another burns brighter than any secret. Can Bridget overlook Val’s many sins or will they drive her away?

I fell in love with Bridget’s character from the first page. She is fierce and loyal when she has very little reason to be so. I loved her passionate nature which she tries very hard to deny. She fights furiously to push away her desire for the evil duke, but her soft heart interferes when she learns what drives his atrocious behavior.

Val’s character is definitely a tortured soul, my favorite kind of hero. He is deliciously gorgeous, and Ms. Hoyt does an astonishing job of painting a clear picture for me. While he is indeed very wicked, he does have vulnerabilities. Hoyt has given me a truly flawed character, one that could be too much for some. I really worried there was no way she could ever redeem him, but she worked her magic. I became so emotionally involved and began to overlook his terrible behavior. Val is truly a villain, one that a reader will either love of hate.

Ms. Hoyt is a true master at pulling me into her story, even when I fought it. I already mentioned that Val is not an easy character to like, let alone love, but she managed it with me. Duke of Sin is fast-paced with plenty of suspense woven into the vivid Georgian setting. From the description of the costumes to the manner in which her characters speak, I felt as if I were living in this period of history. It would be easy to overlook her brilliance in this area with her incredibly compelling characters driving the story.

If you’re looking for a truly emotionally-charged story with unforgettable characters, then you will love Duke of Sin as much as I did. This entire series is a true pleasure to read and this book definitely lived up to my high expectations. Happy reading!

 

Book Review: The Groom Wore Plaid by Gayle Callen

The Groom Wore Plaid by Gayle Callen

 Publisher & Release Date: HarperCollins Publishers, February 23, 2016

Time and setting: 1717 – 1727, Scotland

Genre: Historical Romance

Length:  389 pages

Heat Level: 2 Flames

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Falling in love means tempting fate in this passionate new novel in USA Today bestselling author Gayle Callen’s Highland Weddings series

 Maggie McCallum’s dreams about her new fiancé aren’t the romantic sort. It’s not just that she was bartered to Owen Duff like a piece of property to end a clan feud. She’s also haunted by premonitions of his death on their upcoming wedding day. Yet the exasperating Highlander won’t let her call it off, even though his life and his clan are both in jeopardy.

 Owen has wanted Maggie in his bed since he first glimpsed her years ago. If their union restores peace between their clans, so much the better. But while lusting after another chief’s sister had its risks, growing to trust Maggie is far more dangerous. Owen is falling deeply in love with the one woman he cannot hope to claim . . . and survive.

 Buy Link:

http://smile.amazon.com/Groom-Wore-Plaid-Highland-Weddings-ebook/dp/B00YMSID0K

Add to Goodreads:

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26062725-the-groom-wore-plaid

 Vikki’s Musings

 It has been quite some time since I have read a book by Gayle Callen, but I am certainly pleased I had the opportunity to read The Groom Wore Plaid in exchange for an honest review. Now I remember why I love her books!

The Groom Wore Plaid is an emotionally-charged romance with engaging characters and an intriguing plot. The pacing is excellent and made it an easy and quick read. The prologue pulled me in, and it smoothly transitioned to the first chapter, which is ten years after the couple first met.

Margaret McCallum is the sacrificial lamb. By marrying Owen Duff, the Earl of Aberfoyle, it will end the long feud between their clans. There is a problem. Maggie has dreams that foretell the future. She has had a dream showing Owen dying in her arms on their wedding day. How can she place him in harm’s way by marrying him?

Owen Duff remembers Maggie and the desire he felt for her. He wronged her ten years ago and she has not forgiven him, even though she has agreed to the contract between the clans. His desire for Maggie has not lessened. In fact, it is stronger than ever. Although, he has to overcome his future bride’s determination to find another way to fulfill the contract. Can Owen convince Maggie to marry him, or will her desire to protect him from his possible death prove too strong to circumvent?

I truly enjoyed Maggie’s character. She is sincere, loyal to her family and determined to protect the man she has always desired, even though he wronged her in the past. She has good depth to her character, and I was able to figure out what made her so afraid to form friendships. I could feel her terror over putting Owen in a situation that could mean his death.

Owen Duff’s character has every reason to avoid attachments. He also has a lot to prove to his clan. His father was an uncaring chief, milking the clan and ruling from a distance. He was more concerned about his ties to England and spent most of his time there. I loved Owen’s determination to prove he will be a good chief for the clan. Even though he has trust issues, he truly wants Maggie to become his bride. It just takes almost losing her for him to realize the depth of his feelings for her.

The Groom Wore Plaid is very well-written, and Ms. Callen does an excellent job with the suspenseful scenes. My only problem with this story is the lack of a strong sense of Scotland. Her dialogue did not give me what I love about a Scottish tale. Other than the use of ye and lass, it could have been set in England. However, I did enjoy the romance between the hero and heroine a great deal.

If you enjoy a moving story with a bit of suspense and great characters, then you will enjoy The Groom Wore Plaid. I understand this is part of a series so I want to read the other books in this series. Now that I recall why I enjoy Ms. Callen’s books, I will be looking for others by her. Happy reading!

Book Review: Dearest Rogue by Elizabeth Hoyt

http://vvaught512.blogspot.com/2015/05/dearest-rogue-by-elizabeth-hoyt-maiden.html?zx=1a39f1e5372eecd2