One Sinful Night [Paperback]

Kaitlin O'Riley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 4, 2008

Scandals Are Forever.At sixteen, Vivienne Montgomery was utterly unprepared for the scandal that erupted when Aidan Kavanaugh abruptly left Galway for London, abandoning Vivienne to her ruined reputation. Ten years later, Vivienne has a new life, far from those who know of her past - until she and Aidan are both invited to a weeklong house party.Aidan Kavanaugh never forgot the magical summer he and Vivienne shared, or the betrayal he felt on finding her in another man's arms. Since leaving Ireland, Aidan has embraced his duties as Earl of Whitlock, including impending marriage to a young lady who will be the perfect wife in every way but one: she is not Vivienne...Days and nights in close quarters quickly erode Vivienne and Aidan's reserve, leading to breathless trysts that are as passionate as they are dangerous. For others are determined to keep them apart. And if one week is not enough to undo ten years of mistrust, Vivienne will lose her reputation - and her heart - all over again...

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A talented author...O'Riley's plot twists add...freshness to the genre."

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (March 4, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082178093X
• ISBN-13: 978-0821780930
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #555,204 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kaitlin O'Riley fell in love with historical romance novels when she was just fourteen years old, and shortly thereafter she began writing her own stories in spiral notebooks. Fortunately for her none of those early efforts survive today. She is still an avid reader and can often be found curled up on a sofa with a book in her hands. Her debut novel is Secrets of a Duchess, of which the Romantic Times declared added "freshness to the genre." This book was followed a year later by One Sinful Night, and When His Kiss Is Wicked, the first of a series about five sisters living in Victorian England. Her current release, Desire in His Eyes, is the second in the Hamilton sisters series and follows the adventures of the impetuous Juliette Hamilton. Publishers Weekly said O'Riley's writing was set "well apart from the usual romance fare." Her first foray into paranormal romance is a dreamy vampire novella released in September 2010, Yours For Eternity, with authors Hannah Howell and Alexandra Ivy. Her next novella will be a part of the anthology, Invitation to Sin, with authors Sally MacKenzenie, Vanessa Kelly, and Jo Beverley, in February 2011. Kaitlin grew up in New Jersey, but now she lives in sunny Southern California, where she is busy writing her next book. Please visit her at www.KaitlinORiley.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars FRANKLY MY DEAR, ANNOYING!, March 7, 2008

By 

M. Hebdige "Nanette Hebdige" (California - Las Vegas, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: One Sinful Night (Paperback)

Having enjoyed Secrets of a Duchess tremendously, I was really looking forward to reading O'Riley's second novel. Unfortunately ONE SINFUL NIGHT fell WAY off its mark and it left me, frankly... <<annoyed>>!

Aidan Kavanaugh is a man betrayed by the faithlessness of his once fiancé Vivienne Montgomery in Ireland. As he finds her in the arms of another man, he breaks off his engagement with her - leaving without giving her a chance to explain.

A decade later, they meet at a house party in England. Though almost engaged to another, there is still an attraction between them. Vivienne has spent 10 horrible years in isolation in Ireland - shunned by friends and living with her grandmother in a run down cottage, with barely enough food to eat, she is rescued by her aunt and uncle and comes to live with them in England and hides her past from the world.

The plot of lovers re-united is a good setting but their behavior and character incongruous at times. I found Aidan stubbornness absurd and his callous and unfeeling behavior toward Vivienne irritating and tiresome, which is a constant throughout the book.

Vivienne is likable enough gal, though after being scorned and abandoned without a word for 10 years or given a chance to explain the situation to Aidan, it preposterous that she succumbs to his charm and his kisses and allows any explanation to be left unsaid.

Aidan still has feelings for Vivienne, but what he feels is more dislike, resentment and hate at being scorned than affection or love for her. After a passionate interlude, she finally explains what has happened that fateful day 10 years ago and still expresses her feelings of love for him; yet Aidan staunchly believes she deceived him.

The escapades of Aidan's mother - who does everything within her power to keep them apart, get very <<annoying>> after a while. She goes as far as bribing people to keep the H/H apart - yet what is strange is that her vitriolic and poisonous behavior toward Vivienne is never explained in the book (?). (Although, I have to admit that her villainous character makes the Wicked Witch of the West look like an angel!)

Another frustrating facet in the book for me were the flashbacks from the present to the past, 10 years back to when they first meet. After reading about their undying love for one another is even more absurd that Aidan walks away from their engagement without a backward glance or a chance at an explanation!

Aidan comes to the rescue when Vivienne is abducted by the baddie and all is forgiven and explained in the last five pages - which after plodding through the book and having to put up with Aidan's resentment toward Vivienne it is hard to believe that love has blossomed for him again so quickly (or is it guilt at not believing her...) as he comes to realize it is his mother's machinations that has kept them apart <<annoying>>. Vivienne is too quick to forgive which further adds to my <<annoyance>> - as it is even harder to believe that someone who has been treated so unkindly for so long so readily forgives without having any resentment. ONE SINFUL NIGHT - was more like - ONE ANNOYING BOOK. Sorry!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The hero is a bit of jerk, but I really like it anyway!, April 13, 2008

By 

statengirl (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: One Sinful Night (Paperback)

Vivienne Montgomery and Aidan Cavanaugh were young and in love and engaged to be married. It was Galway, Ireland. Aidan was the wealthy son of the local lord, and Vivienne lived in a simple cottage with her grandmother, yet they were true soul mates. Then Aidan discovered Vivienne in the arms of another man and assumed the worst. He departed at once for England, never giving her a chance to explain, and leaving her publicly humiliated, emotionally devastated and firmly marked as damaged goods.

Ten tormented years later, Aidan and Vivienne meet at a weeklong country house party in England. Neither has married...and the anger, hurt, and emotional impact are still remarkably fresh. There is a definite iciness to their reunion. Aidan is now an English earl, pondering marriage to a noblewoman whom he likes but does not love. Vivienne is recently arrived from Ireland, saved from a life of poverty to live with her wealthy and titled English relations. She has grown into a vivacious, elegant and breathtakingly beautiful woman who is primed to enter the marriage mart. But it is impossible to think of finding a spouse when - despite their public indifference - all these two can think about is each other.

I really like this story. Ms. O' Riley is a very good writer and this book packs a lot of punch: an interesting storyline, good pacing, great chemistry, vibrant dialogue, a skillful build-up of sexual tension, and some fine emotion-filled scenes. Although Aidan definitely has his boorish moments, overall this is a couple that sizzles...including a frenzied, wonderful, steamy impromptu encounter in a closet. In fact, most all of their scenes together are pretty electric. Aidan's sometimes callous behavior towards Vivienne does grate a bit, but his true (tender) feelings for her are never really in doubt to the reader. And Vivienne is immensely likable - utterly feminine, yet no easy pushover - splendidly holding her own through thick and thin. I enjoyed this author's previous book (and debut novel), "Secrets of a Duchess," as well. She has a passion in her writing that truly makes her stories special.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lost love found, July 14, 2008

By 

Melissa (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: One Sinful Night (Paperback)

Victorian house parties are wonderful locales for romance. One Sinful Night opens with a weeklong house party that brings together lost love.

Vivienne Montgomery and Aidan Kavanaugh were deeply in love ten years earlier in Ireland. They were to marry until a terrible misunderstanding thrust them apart. Usually I do not like the big misunderstanding plot but here it works because the two were only teenagers at the time.

The two are stunned to see each other again while both attending the house party. Aidan is now the Earl of Whitlock and he has so much enmity toward Vivienne that he treats her with extreme coldness. Ditto for Vivienne, she can barely be in the same room with Aidan. They both are incredibly hurt and bitter.

Also attending the house party is Aidan's mother who is controlling and manipulative and Aidan's business rival Harlow. These two along with others who wish to keep the two leads apart, scheme against the couple throughout the novel. Circumstances, however, throw the leads together in unusual places and their desire for each other is still as strong (and steamy) as it was when they were teenagers. Furthermore, Vivienne feels like she is still in love with the man who broke her heart all those years ago.

I liked this book immensely. It was well paced and the romance between the leads was very sweet, especially when it was told through flashbacks. I also liked that the heroine and hero make the best of situations. The only fly in the ointment was that Aidan was so blind to his mother's machinations. But this was only a minor point which never kept me from enjoying the story.