Customer Reviews

One Sinful Night

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

I have now read all three of Kaitlin O'reilly's books and loved them all. This one for me was the best. You truly felt for the heroine, the story was very intriguing. He writing style reaminds me of Juditch McNaught, in the sense that there's a lot of heartache and you feel very strongly for the characters unlike some love stories where you couldn't care less if the two leads get together.

Aidan Kavanaugh and Vivienne Montgomery were still teenagers when scandal erupted concerning their love affair. Ten years later, emotions are still raw and while they have not set sight upon each other until now, Aidan and Vivienne can't help but remember the wonderful summer they shared and the love that they made. But, for Aidan, remembering comes with a high price. He remembers the betrayal and hurt of finding Vivienne in another's arms. Vivienne remembers Aidan's refusal to believe in her innocence. So much has happened since these lovers were torn apart but one thing remains the same; their desire for each other has yet to wane.

Talk about mistakes and jumping to conclusions. While I didn't envy Vivienne her feelings for Aidan, I honestly wondered why she would still love him. He was horrible to her to the point of abuse and I almost put One Sinful Night down more than once because of this. But I didn't. Something kept telling me to continue reading and I am glad that I did so. Aidan had spent his younger years watching his father and mother argue and fight. Things like that scar a person and his being a young bystander probably influenced his feelings of betrayal more than most. Vivienne was young and didn't know how to handle Aidan's mother. Had she been able to, lots of things would not have happened, i.e., their breakup.

Just what I wanted in a historical romance, One Sinful Night by Kaitlin O'Riley was a good read. While I was not that fond of Aidan to start with, he kind of grew on me. Historical romance is one of my favorite genres to read and One Sinful Night kept me entertained. I look forward to investigating further novels written by this talented author.

Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

In Galway, Ireland, Aidan Kavanaugh is stunned to see his beloved sixteen year old Vivienne Montgomery being hugged by Nicky Foster. Angry and upset observing the woman he planned to marry in a compromising position, Aidan leaves his hometown; Vivienne's heart is broken and her reputation ruined although she knows she is innocent and cannot understand why Nicky did what he did.

A decade later in 1870, Vivienne lives with relatives in England; hiding her past from them and everyone else. Successful shipping magnate Aidan has had a bad business week topped off when Gregory Cardwell introduces him to his cousin Vivienne. Aidan is engaged to someone else but like her still feels the attraction. Whereas Aidan refuses to act on it, Vivienne decides to take a chance on love even if she fails means her reputation will be destroyed again, but history repeats itself as he sees her compromised again.

The key to this entertaining Victorian romance is the underlying jocularity to the warm second chance at love plot. Aidan and Vivienne are superb lead characters while the villain makes Karl Rove look like a child prankster. This is my first Kaitlin O'Riley historical, but will not be my last.

Harriet Klausner

I read this book in a day. Loved it. What stood out for me is the childhood relationship between the heroine and hero. I would say it was one of the best written, I believed they were truly close friends and Vivienne provided a safe haven for the hero. I loved the scene where they meet up again after the hero's return from schooling, believable and beautifully romantic.

WOW, this book is amazing. It is new and fresh. It has plot twists which bring some life to a very predictable genre. This book was much more affordable than some of the more popular authors, but in many ways it was far better. This author has a future in romance.
Aiden falls in love with his childhood friend, Vivienne. When he finds her alone, half dressed, and in the arms of another man. He is devastated that his fiance would betray him like that. He leaves Ireland to make a new life in England. He succeeds in doing so, but a chance meeting 10 years later with Vivienne releases a flood of emotions he didn't know was still there. This meeting can either bring them together or tear them apart. The beautiful and stunning Vivienne has no lack of suitors and if Aiden wants her he'll have to fight for her. After another betrayal from Vivienne will Aiden follow his heart or leave her to follow greener pastures.

I really loved this book as much as I've enjoyed reading all of Kaitlin O'Riley's other novels. What strikes me is her dialogue, her twists and turns in the plot, and the 'realness' of her characters. She has the reader wanting the pair to get together because they feel like real people with all of their faults. Yes, Aiden is stubborn in this one, but we've all known stubborn men. I won't ruin the love story by telling you the details of the plot as other reviewers have done. Simply put, this is another 'up all night' book that you can't put down. Enjoy it!

He wouldn't even meet with her after she pleaded with him-the love of his life for 10 years????