Title: The Devil of Clan Sinclair
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical romance
Series: Clan Sinclair
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon (July 30, 2013)
ISBN-10: 006224244X
ISBN-13: 978-0062242440
Author's Website: http://karenranney.com/
Notes: Received and eARC loan from the publisher. Quotes will need to be checked against the final copy.
Virginia Anderson Traylor once had dreams of making a love match. She even found the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. But her father had other plans. He set about arranging a marriage between her and an Earl. The Earl, however, was not healthy and had been a semi-invalid who was house bound. The marriage was not a happy one, and the two had only consummated the marriage once. As that union had failed to produce any heirs, Virginia and her in-laws now find themselves on the verge of being penniless and kicked out of their entailed home. While her father thought he was doing right by his daughter by securing her place in London society, he had failed to foresee his own death a mere two months after the marriage. He had also failed to foresee the death of his son-in-law who had despised his wife so much he made sure the entire fortune she'd inherited from her father would be so entwined within the Earl's estate so she'd never see a single farthing of it upon his death.
"Have you decided?"
"What you propose is so..." The words trailed away.
"Practical? Logical?" Enid asked.(...)"Do not think Jeremy will support us, my dear. He will banish us from this house with a quickness that will surprise you. What he doesn't do, his harridan of a wife will. They'll care nothing for what happens to us."(...)
What Enid was proposing was shocking. Somehow, she needed to get with child and quickly enough that he would be viewed as Lawrence's heir.
"It's a solution to our dilemma," Enid said, "Have you given any thought to it?"
And so Virginia, with the weight of the fate of her in-laws, and her own on her shoulders, found herself on the path to find the one man she'd fallen for less than a year ago. To seek him out, seduce him and get herself with child. A child he must never know about. For goodness knows what he would do if he ever found out.
This was a rather unconventional romance to say the least and I rather enjoyed it. Virginia has always had a meek personality, being easily intimidated. She's always done as she was supposed to, and it has gotten her absolutely nowhere. Doing as her mother-in-law Enid suggests goes against her grain, but it does hold some appeal for her. To see the man she fell for again. The man that she never truly stopped thinking of is tempting. A bold temptress she is not, but feeling a little trapped by the circumstances she finds herself in, she decides to indulge in her own wishes and be a little selfish.
While Macrath Sinclair's family earned a living in the newspaper business, he'd made his fortune as an inventor. He's a proud man, and family means the world to him. When Virginia shows up on his doorstep he has hopes they can pick up where they left off. Once again, he wears his heart on his sleeve, but Virginia makes it quite clear that while a tryst is acceptable, anything more is not.
As you can imagine, when Macrath finds out what Virginia did he is furious and that's when things get interesting. Motherhood gives Virginia the backbone she's never before had. Her claws come out, and she comes into her own and will not be intimidated. I loved seeing this side of her. I also enjoyed how Macrath dealt with her even when he was attempting to be mean. The two truly were a perfect match.
Why is the book called, The Devil of Clan Sinclair? Well, it has to do with the villagers' nickname for the mysterious man (Macrath) with the devilishly dark good looks and wicked grin--the Devil of Drumvagen. A nickname he truly did nothing to earn.
Overall, I gave this one 3 1/2 out of 5 Roses. I loved Macrath and how he managed to keep a cool head where Virginia was concerned. Virginia really never stood a chance against Macrath and it was enjoyable seeing Macrath finally break down her resolve. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets
a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.
“Why have you come, Virginia?” he asked.
“I want to know what love is like between a man and a woman. Not simply what it felt like to be a frightened miss alone with an angry husband.”
“Was he angry?” he asked.
“It seemed so.” When he didn’t speak, she said, “He took my virtue, Macrath, not my heart. Never my heart.”
He pulled her close slowly, so slowly she might have turned her head or escaped from him easily. She didn’t, only tilted back her head, praying for a kiss.
Softly, he placed his lips on hers. A kiss to reacquaint, an expression of remembrance, and a silent hello, one that didn’t prepare her for the surge of feeling.
The kiss deepened, becoming something she’d never felt, as if their combined need created a maelstrom between them. She was left gasping for breath, but when he would’ve pulled away, she gripped his shirt with both hands and pulled him back to her.
“Teach me,” she whispered. Before the words had totally left her lips, she was airborne, caught up in his arms.
She hadn’t expected this. She’d thought they might escape to his room or her lovely chamber, tiptoeing through this magnificent home like thieves. She’d never thought he would brazenly carry her through the corridors like a drunken bridegroom.
She closed her eyes, hoping none of his servants saw them. Hoping, too, if they did, she didn’t see them.
Her hands still clutched his shirt and she couldn’t release them. Where their bodies touched there was such heat she was warned. This night would not be like her wedding night.
When dawn broke, she wouldn’t be the same woman.
(Excerpt used with permission of Harper Collins/Avon Romance)
"Have you decided?"
"What you propose is so..." The words trailed away.
"Practical? Logical?" Enid asked.(...)"Do not think Jeremy will support us, my dear. He will banish us from this house with a quickness that will surprise you. What he doesn't do, his harridan of a wife will. They'll care nothing for what happens to us."(...)
What Enid was proposing was shocking. Somehow, she needed to get with child and quickly enough that he would be viewed as Lawrence's heir.
"It's a solution to our dilemma," Enid said, "Have you given any thought to it?"
And so Virginia, with the weight of the fate of her in-laws, and her own on her shoulders, found herself on the path to find the one man she'd fallen for less than a year ago. To seek him out, seduce him and get herself with child. A child he must never know about. For goodness knows what he would do if he ever found out.
This was a rather unconventional romance to say the least and I rather enjoyed it. Virginia has always had a meek personality, being easily intimidated. She's always done as she was supposed to, and it has gotten her absolutely nowhere. Doing as her mother-in-law Enid suggests goes against her grain, but it does hold some appeal for her. To see the man she fell for again. The man that she never truly stopped thinking of is tempting. A bold temptress she is not, but feeling a little trapped by the circumstances she finds herself in, she decides to indulge in her own wishes and be a little selfish.
While Macrath Sinclair's family earned a living in the newspaper business, he'd made his fortune as an inventor. He's a proud man, and family means the world to him. When Virginia shows up on his doorstep he has hopes they can pick up where they left off. Once again, he wears his heart on his sleeve, but Virginia makes it quite clear that while a tryst is acceptable, anything more is not.
As you can imagine, when Macrath finds out what Virginia did he is furious and that's when things get interesting. Motherhood gives Virginia the backbone she's never before had. Her claws come out, and she comes into her own and will not be intimidated. I loved seeing this side of her. I also enjoyed how Macrath dealt with her even when he was attempting to be mean. The two truly were a perfect match.
Why is the book called, The Devil of Clan Sinclair? Well, it has to do with the villagers' nickname for the mysterious man (Macrath) with the devilishly dark good looks and wicked grin--the Devil of Drumvagen. A nickname he truly did nothing to earn.
Overall, I gave this one 3 1/2 out of 5 Roses. I loved Macrath and how he managed to keep a cool head where Virginia was concerned. Virginia really never stood a chance against Macrath and it was enjoyable seeing Macrath finally break down her resolve. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets
a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.
Excerpt from The Devil of Clan Sinclair by Karen Ranney:
When Deception Meets Desire
“Why have you come, Virginia?” he asked.
“I want to know what love is like between a man and a woman. Not simply what it felt like to be a frightened miss alone with an angry husband.”
“Was he angry?” he asked.
“It seemed so.” When he didn’t speak, she said, “He took my virtue, Macrath, not my heart. Never my heart.”
He pulled her close slowly, so slowly she might have turned her head or escaped from him easily. She didn’t, only tilted back her head, praying for a kiss.
Softly, he placed his lips on hers. A kiss to reacquaint, an expression of remembrance, and a silent hello, one that didn’t prepare her for the surge of feeling.
The kiss deepened, becoming something she’d never felt, as if their combined need created a maelstrom between them. She was left gasping for breath, but when he would’ve pulled away, she gripped his shirt with both hands and pulled him back to her.
“Teach me,” she whispered. Before the words had totally left her lips, she was airborne, caught up in his arms.
She hadn’t expected this. She’d thought they might escape to his room or her lovely chamber, tiptoeing through this magnificent home like thieves. She’d never thought he would brazenly carry her through the corridors like a drunken bridegroom.
She closed her eyes, hoping none of his servants saw them. Hoping, too, if they did, she didn’t see them.
Her hands still clutched his shirt and she couldn’t release them. Where their bodies touched there was such heat she was warned. This night would not be like her wedding night.
When dawn broke, she wouldn’t be the same woman.
(Excerpt used with permission of Harper Collins/Avon Romance)
No comments:
Post a Comment