Customer Reviews

Her Dearest Sin (Historical Romance)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

...but not anything I will be reading again soon. Sebastian Sinclair (nicknamed "Sin") has always been known as impetuous and a little reckless when it comes to making choices, and when he meets a woman (Pilar) running away from her horrible guardian, he is quick to come to her defense. Sin walks away from the encounter, but with a scar across his face that will always be a reminder of what happened. When he chances upon Pilar at a party, he knows what he must do - get revenge against her cruel guardian, and steal her heart!

I must confess that I read this book primarily to see what happened to Anne and Ian from the second book in the Sinclair Brides Trilogy (Anne's Perfect Husband). I was a bit disappointed in this book. There is not much romance at all, and is mostly an adventure story with a few strands of romance wrapped in along the way. I have no idea why or when Pilar falls in love with Sin, and I have no idea why or when Sin falls in love with Pilar, as their relationship is rarely discussed. The plot was also a bit predictable, after reading about 30 pages of the book I knew exactly what was going to happen in the end. It's an okay book, but doesn't have the bite that the first two books in the trilogy had, in my opinion.

The relationship between Pilar and the last Sinclair Brother, Sebastian, was good but not good enough. I mean they barely got time for romance or to really know each other. Just a few conversations and discussions and finally romance a t the end of the book. I liked the action in the book but I think miss Wilson could've done better at the beginning of the book. It was ok ,but I think she could have put the real Elizabeth, the earl's wife, her own personality, at that of the virgin-spirited girl and innocent that appears in this book to that of the gambler's mistress, a women of the world and independent that appears in My Lady's Dare.

Perhaps because there was so many things going on outside of a budding romance that the romance aspect, for me, was lost. I like both characters but I never got a firm grip as to what they actually looked like or why they got together. There did not seem to be much relationship development. How disfigured was Sebastian anyway? Pilar is nice enough, proud enough, etc, etc, etc. But I found no sizzle between the two. I hope their son, in the next installment, finds a bride with more fire.

Sebastian "Sin" Sinclair comes from a family where untraditional matches are the norm, but his just may take the cake. He meets the woman in his life when she holds him at the point of a sword and tries to steal his uniform.

Pilar made one bold attempt to escape her guardian, before bowing to the inevitable. She appears to settle into her lot in life, but appearances can be deceiving. Her spirit never dims. And when Sebastian comes back into her life, she rediscovers herself...and discovers a love that can't be denied. In order to claim that love she and Sebastian must fight convention...and her guardian, a man who doesn't plan to let her go.

Gayle Wilson's Sincliar brothers are a delightful trio!

Do you like romances that contain not only a tender love story, but are also filled with heart-stopping adventure? If so, you will love "Her Dearest Sin," Gayle Wilson's newest novel. Known not only for her regency romances but also for her contemporary novels of suspense, Gayle manages to combine both of these themes successfully in her latest story, set during the British Peninsular campaign in Spain. The hero, Captain Sebastian Sinclair (the "Sin" of the title), finds some trouble with a capital "T" when he has a strange encounter with a lovely senorita, Dona Pilar Aranjuez, along the banks of a river in Spain where he has gone alone to bathe. What happens during that initial encounter marks him forever, and sends him chasing all over Spain and England for the elusive Pilar. I can't say more without giving away too much of the plot, but suffice it to say that, along the way, Sin must deal with kidnapping, murder, avarice, lust, treachery,deceit and, finally, true love. Is Dona Pilar really the innocent she seems, or is she setting a deadly trap for our hero? While the pace of the story does slow a little once the venue switches from Spain to England, and while the villain seems a little too "all knowing and all powerful" at times to be completely credible, overall this book is one fantastic read that will keep you engrossed from the very first page. The RITA-award winning Gayle Wilson has triumphed yet again in "Her Dearest Sin," presenting us with a great story and wonderful characterizations, all wrapped up in a beautifully written package.

Pilar and Sebastian Sinclair meet on very strange circumstances. She is trying to steal his clothes so that she can run away from her guardian/fiance. Needless to say, since we are just starting the story, she gets caught, he gets accused of trying to help her, and her guardian Julian Delgado is very angry.

Sebastian and Pilar meet later, of course, and all sorts of crazy things happen. All of which make Julian even more upset. (Julian is not very nice.)

I really liked Pilar, and she was written in a way that allowed to reader to understand her actions even when they seemed to go against what she should do. Sebastian on the other hand, was a bit of an arrogant fool...at first. He slowly changes and learns and becomes a better man.

Not too bad for a Harlequin. The story and setting were very interesting without too many hot and heavy scenes.

3/5

I actually think this book rated four stars, but I'm giving it an extra star to help with the ratings.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the h/h - Sin and Pelar - certainly not a typical pair! This book is better written than another Wilson that I have just read, I loved the plot, and the dialogue, the comaradie - it all sparkles!

Sin is set out to get even with the woman(girl) who did him wrong - but when he discovers that things are not the way they appeared to be, he about faces in his objective. He actually changes course a few times over the story, as he becomes aware of more and more of the facts. In this story the heroine is rescued from a terrible situation - and I always love stories where that happens - and good triumphs (barely) over evil.

That said, I did have some gripes with the story. While there are many parts of the book that are exceptionally well-written, there are also many parts that are not exceptionaly so. The well-written bits are exceptionally well-written, however, and almost makes it worthwhile plodding through the rest! And the story itself - while the plot is good, and the characters are likeable and come very much alive in this book - I think that Ms. Wilson could have done a better job in drawing us in to the emotions of all the people involved.

I have seen another review earlier of one of Ms. Wilson's books, with the reviewer saying that although her books are well-written, there is something missing. I feel the same way. I think part of that something is that, for the most part, she is writing the story from the outside - in a cool, detached manner, in place of a dramatic, emotional manner when we reach dramatic, emotional parts of the story (which there were quite a few of, by the way). We don't get much of an emotional understanding of the h/h, for one thing - as a previous reviewer pointed out - where is the point where we see why and how they fall in love? Okay, if you think about it, you can figure it out, but we would rather the author did the thinking - and the emotional feelings of h/h - for us.

But, I did enjoy "Her Dearest Sin". There were many parts of the book where the writing was excellent, and I found the H/H, plus surrounding characters, completely believable and sympathetic. If you like complex, easy-to-like characters, a suspenseful plot with above-average writing - this book is worth reading.

Galye Wilson's Her Dearest Sin, 3rd in the Sinclair Brides series is a stunning masterpiece of drama, suspense, history and romance, skillfully woven into the tapestry of great storytelling. Having been a fan of Cornwell's Sharpe, I was delighted to discover Ms. Wilson's choice of setting for this tale of Sin and Dona Pilar. Kudos for creating a well-drawn, sympathetic hero in Sin and a heroine worthy of him.

Sebastian "Sin" Sinclair comes from a family where untraditional matches are the norm, but his just may take the cake. He meets the woman in his life when she holds him at the point of a sword and tries to steal his uniform.

Pilar made one bold attempt to escape her guardian, before bowing to the inevitable. She appears to settle into her lot in life, but appearances can be deceiving. Her spirit never dims. And when Sebastian comes back into her life, she rediscovers herself...and discovers a love that can't be denied. In order to claim that love she and Sebastian must fight convention...and her guardian, a man who doesn't plan to let her go.

Gayle Wilson's Sinclair brothers are a delightful trio!

"Sin" produces everything - adventure, very subtle romance, sorrow and grief, and a desire for revenge.

Captain the Honorable Sebastian Sinclair was one of the most popular officers on Wellington's staff. He had the famous Sinclair eyes, deep blue amid a sweep of long black lashes.
The viscount, Lord Harry Wetherly was one of Sinclair's best friends. They had both seen many of their commrades fall in battle.
[I think} Lord Wetherly had accorded the nick-name of "Sin" to his buddy.

Yup! Sin just wanted a bath after all that mud. Wetherly just wasn't interested. Well, he got his cleansing bath leaving his drawers on, which of course didn't hide much of anything, soaking wet.

When Pilar is caught trying to steal Sin's clothing [and his sword] Sin makes a dive for his gun. Only to be caught with his pants down so to speak when approached by reckless horseman. Pilar can't elude her guardian but must plead for Sins' life - her guardian takes his sword and makes a cut across Sin's face and down his throat.
Thereby setting Sin's thirst for revenge.

The Duke of Wellington and his entourage is invited to Court of St. James as a special emissary. Here Sin recognizes Pilar and she makes the mistake of slipping out into the garden. Yup! Sin very boldly steals a kiss. She has not forgotten the image of him in wet, revealing underdrawers.<g> Therein starts the subtle romance.

Shortly after Sin finds out the horseman's name - Julian Delgado - he starts looking for an opportunity to waylay the man. Only to have Harry answer a note intended for Sin and Harry meets to fate intended for the man with the scar.

Sin grabs the opportunity when he hears that Delgado is leaving for France and Pilar is left behind. Why not taunt the man with his ward's abduction. Delgado fully intends to make her his wife with the consent of his king. He wants her and everything that her father had.

You must understand that in those days a Catholic woman would rather die than exchange vows with one of no religion. This would have brought damnation to her immortal soul. Sin had to leave the decision to her as it was her life but she knew that Delgado would kill Sin. She had been emotionally abused.

The immorality was skirted around by the probably, false vows that they would exchange. As Sin got more information of Delgado's mistreatment of Pilar he continued to fall under her spell.

I did love the reunion of Sin with his brother's whom he hadn't seen in a couple of years. And Pilar's doubts of the Earl and family accepting her as Sin's wife. The doubts and insecurities are what melded the romance.

I was waiting for Anne to get into specifics of the brother's marriages - but I guess Ian and Dare kinda scotched the idea.

Then, dontcha know, she gets abducted - again - What a whale of an ending.

And then we get a teaser - RAFE SINCLAIR'S REVENGE - HI 685 - #8 of the MEN OF MYSTERY AND #1 of the PHOENIX BROTHERHOOD - a descendent of the Sinclairs bearing Pilar's father's name - Rafe is a CIA operative

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - great trilogy plus the extra -- keeper sets.