Customer Reviews

To Sin With A Scoundrel (Circle of Sin)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Lady Ciara Sheffield is a young widow with an eight-year-old son, Peregrine "Perry". The serious-minded scholar is an expert in chemistry. This is how the rumors of her husband's death began. The inquest of Sheffield's death showed no proof of foul play. Yet Sheffield's horrid relatives have helped rumors spread that Ciara had poisoned her husband. The nephew, Arthur Battersham, and his mother are trying to reopen the inquest. They are high in Society and well connected. With their whispering into the right ears, they could very well succeed in their attempt. Arthur has gambled himself into debt, which is why Ciara believes the Sheffield relatives are campaigning to steal away her son, by proving her unfit to be a mother. Should they win custody of Perry, they would also control his grand inheritance. Being called the Wicked Witch of Pont Street, Ciara keeps to herself and shields Perry from Society's barbs. Her close friends are the five women, two of which are elderly, which make up the Circle of Scientific Sibyls, affectionately known as the Circle of Sin. The other "Sinners" decide Ciara needs to get a fiancé with enough stature and connections in Society to counter the malicious machinations of Sheffield's relatives. And who better to play the part of a sham courtship than Lucas Bingham, the Earl of Hadley.

Lucas has never cared what Society thought of him. No matter how outrageous he behaves, Society loves him. Everyone loves nothing more than to read the morning paper to see what wild thing "Mad, Bad Had-ley" has recently done. However, Lucas does have a soft spot. His love for his uncle, Sir Henry Phelps, clearly shines through to those who know Lucas. Sir Henry has recently discovered what seems to be a lost manuscript by Hippocrates. Confined to a Bath chair, Sir Henry asks Lucas to ask Ciara to help decipher the manuscript. The "Sinners" convince Ciara and Lucas to make a deal. Ciara will tackle the enormous task of deciphering the manuscript and Lucas will escort her around Society to squelch the slanderous rumors that threaten to have her hanged. But soon the sham engagement becomes something more and then the accidents begin to happen. Lucas is determined to protect the brilliant widow and the adorable little boy he is coming to care way too much for.

***** FOUR AND A HALF STARS! Author Cara Elliott has created a magnificently compelling read! She has paired a scholar and a scoundrel. Well, science does show that opposites attract. This story follows that logic and I had a wonderful time watching the chemistry of these two main characters mix. This author has made a new fan in me! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I enjoyed this story quite a bit. I loved reading the funny interactions that each of the main characters had with their group of friends. The transformation of Lucas from rake to married man was very believable and fun to watch. Underneath all the womanizing was an intelligent, sensitive and interesting man. I liked Ciara and was glad that she found love after everything her ex-husband put her through. I thought the villains were kind of silly but overall this was a great historical romance.

Lady Ciara Sheffield is known as a scholar, a scientist, and mother of eight-year-old Perry. When her husband dies, though there was no sign of foul play, she is accused of poisoning him. Sheffield believes that her in-laws are trying to ruin her reputation and prove her unfit to mother her beloved Perry in order to collect his inheritance.

Lady Sheffield knows that in order to turn her reputation around, she needs a noble fiancé. Lucas, The Earl of Hadley, a bit of a scoundrel but titled nonetheless, agrees to an alliance with Ciara, as he needs her knowledge to decipher a mysterious manuscript.

Ciara soon discovers a secret about Lucas, and Lucas becomes fond of Ciara and her son Perry. Inevitably, the two begin to fall in love.

Cara Elliot wrote To Sin with a Scoundrel with a nice balance of humor and romance. The historical London setting was nicely painted in the imagination and very believable. She is able to express her characters' thoughts and feelings through little nuances and clever dialogue. The main characters fall into typical archetypes, maiden and scoundrel, with an interesting chemistry and a strong "supporting cast." It was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to the rest of the series!

I just loved this story! The hero was to die for, and the writing very witty. In fact, it reminded me of Jane Austen at her best. I highly recommend it!

As Lady Ciara Sheffield sits drinking her morning tea it's taste turns to ash, the headlines she reads in the morning paper concern her involvement in her husband's death. Although the inquest into the reason for his demise is closed she remains the subject of suspicion and malice because it is believed by Polite Society that she poisoned the blighter. Ciara is a member of a group of ladies who pursue scientific endeavours known as `The Circle Of Sin', each of whom have a particular interest. Unfortunately for Ciara she has particularly nasty in-laws who are out to prove she poisoned her husband so they can lay their clutches on her 8 year old son Peregrine, his title and the monies associated with it.

Murder was a hanging offense in England at that time and as the innuendos resulting in headlines about the `Wicked Widow` escalate Ciara's dearest friends from the Circle close in to protect her and devise a scheme to find her a suitable fiancé thereby providing a male protector, and someone who will re-ingratiate her with the Ton. Ciara rebells against this plan because her marriage had been an unhappy one. Sheffield was a despicable man, who physically and verbally abused Ciara and their son. She has no intention of marrying again. However, Ciara also recognizes she has no choice and opportunity presents itself in the form of the least likely candidate.

Lucas Bingham, the Earl of Hadley, is a devil may care rake-hell who is well known for excessive womanizing, drinking and general debauchery. And, Lucas enjoys every minute of it. He has no intention of settling down, instead keeps company with ladies of the evening and willing women of Polite Society. `Mad Bad Had-ley' is known for his sexual prowess with women and has made a point of honing his skills in seduction. I loved this guy. The dialogue in the novel is laced with sarcastic rapier wit between Lucas and his friends, especially Lord James Jacquehart Pierson, or `Black Jack` as he is better known.

In spite of his rake-hell ways Lucas is devoted to his uncle, Sir Henry Phelps, an invalid who raised and nurtured the wild youngster when his nephew was orphaned. Like Ciara, Sir Henry is scholar and scientist, and when an ancient manuscript comes into his possession which requires deciphering he asks Lucas to take it to Ciara.

Lucas is quite accustomed to women falling at his feet, his prowess as a lover is after all well known. The good Lady Sheffield however, proves to be unimpressed by his presence and turns him away on a number of occasions. He finally breaks into her house to plead his case. Ciara knows Lucas's reputation thanks to his exploits being splashed all over the newspapers. Interestingly, both these people have soiled reputations with Polite Society for very different reasons. Lucas leaves the manuscript behind to tempt Ciara's, scientific curiosity in hope she will concede and translate it for his uncle. However, thanks to a stroke of luck he enlists the help of her closest friends in the Circle of Sin and becomes her pretend fiancé, the plan is hatched. Ciara in turn will translate Sir Henry's manuscript thought to contain a medical miracle.

Ciara and Lucas grow as people over the course of this story, she learns what true passion is with a man and how to really enjoy life. Ciara, thanks to her horrible husband has self image issues and with Lucas's reassurance and kind nurturing her self esteem improves. Lucas realizes his care free life as a non-repentant rake isn't all it's cracked up to be. What I really liked is that he grows to respect Ciara which then turns to love. He also proves to be a very intelligent man. This is a sensual novel, and I don't mean it is loaded with explicit sex because it isn't, it is the tenderness and almost reverence that I thought made the love scenes special.

Ms. Elliott writes a romance sub-plot for Sir Henry and Ciara's sweet, brilliant friend Ariel into the narrative that was lovely. She also involves Ciara's son Peregrine, who Lucas comes to love as his own.

Ciara's feisty, multi-linguial friend and confidant Alessandra della Giamatti has a few choice scenes and exchanges with Jack, which were hilarious. I'm looking forward to their story in the next book of `The Circle of Sin' trilogy due out in June.

If you enjoy a historical romance, I think there is something for everyone in "To Sin With A Scoundrel", sensuality, adventure, suspense and witty dialogue. Also if you enjoy a story about the reformation of a rake, I found this to be an excellent one, because Lucas? Definitely a rake reformed.

My Rating: 4.5/5 Excellent read.

To Sin With A Scoundrel is the first in the Circle of Sin series by Cara Elliott. Historical romances are a guilty pleasure of mine and I particularly like stories with misunderstood, dashing, cynical lords and "overly intelligent", brave, and slightly socially awkward heroines. I enjoyed To Sin With A Scoundrel from the very beginning and am eagerly awaiting the next book in the Circle of Sin series.

Lady Ciara Sheffield is a bluestocking who regularly meets with fellow bluestockings who call themselves the "Circle of Sin." Each member has her own special expertisse and Ciara is skilled in ancient languages, archeology, chemistry, and biology and it sounds like most sciences. Ciara is a young widow and her husband's family has aggressively been seeking the guardianship of her son in order to control his assets. They've tried bringing a murder case against her and are not above resorting to violence. Ciara and her friends decide that the best way to protect Ciara and her son is for her to rely on the protection of a wealthy and powerful man. They select one of the most interesting and notorious rakes, the Earl of Hadley, to come to Ciara's rescue. Together, Ciara and Hadley make a great team and turn To Sin With A Scoundrel into a fun, romantic read!

ISBN-10: 044654129X - Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Forever; Original edition (March 1, 2010), 384 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

When Lady Ciara's horrible husband dies, she soon finds herself in a bit of a pickle. The town and his family are convinced that Ciara had something to do with his death. In order to gain the approval of her fellow peers, Ciara decides to team up with Lucas who has his own reasons for this union. What starts out as a wedding business arrangement, ends up turning into hot and heavy romance.

I really liked the plot and the build up that the author created. Romance lovers everywhere are sure to fall in love with this book.

TO SIN WITH A SCOUNDREL by Cara Elliott was a delightful read. Widowed, Lady Sheffield a respected bluestocking has set the rumor mills afire with allegations of killing her husband. The Earl of Hadley has always kept the gossip papers busy with his antics. Now they have agreed to help one another despite their differences. Who knew that a positive and a negative could result in satisfaction. A witty,sexy read and I am looking forward to the Cirle on Sin series to continue.

Cara Elliott is the alter ego of Regency favorite, Andrea Pickens. Cara introduces us to a new sensual series, the Circle of Sin, with three bluestocking heroines. They unapologetically live among the Ton on their own terms but find love when they least expect it.

To Sin with a Scoundrel introduces us to Lady Ciara Sheffield, a mother first and scientist second. She finds herself the subject of the gossip rags, accused of poisoning her husband (a nasty bit of baggage, deserving of his fate, but one that Lady Ciara did not deliver). Enter the hero, Lord Lucas Bingham, the Earl of Hadley. His sinful antics earn him the name "Mad, Bad, Had - ley." Lucas proposes to a sham engagement to Ciara so the gossip will die down. In return, she assists his uncle in translating a medieval text - his uncle being the only person who Hadley cares for and the only person who cares for the orphaned Hadley. As they act out their sham engagement, Ciara and Lucas learn about each other and themselves. At one point in the story, Ciara discovers a secret about Lucas that explains his ne're-do-well attitude. This endears him to Lady Ciara and the reader. In the end, he comes through like a Knight in Shining Armor.

"Love. As if some missing ingredient had suddenly been poured into his brain, the answer to his discontent, his disenchantment with his own aimless life, became blindingly clear. He turned away from the windows and pressed his palms to his eyes.

Love. Lud, what a fool. He should have seen it coming. He should have run like the devil."

Cara Elliott delivers a classic love story that her new (and returning fans) will enjoy.

Single mom Lady Ciara Sheffield loves two things: her eight-year-old son, Peregrine and chemistry. The inquest into her husband's sudden death determined Sheffield died of natural causes. However, her in-laws insist he was poisoned by her and the rags initially call her a witch but soon accuse her of scientific homicide. Sheffield's sister and his nephew Arthur Battersham demand a new inquest as they spread the word Ciara used her brilliant chemist's mind as the "Wicked Witch of Pont Street" to kill her spouse.

Since the Battersham duet is big shots, they have a great chance of a second inquiry. Ciara knows why the Battersham want her declared unfit to raise her son so they can have access to his fortune as his guardian and consequently pay off Arthur's humongous gambling debts. Her close friends, the Circle of Scientific Sibyls, also known as the Circle of Sin decide Ciara needs a fiancé with connections to shut everyone up with one aristocratic stare. They choose Lucas "Mad Bad Had-ley" Bingham, who cares about no one except his beloved Uncle Henry Phelps, confined to a wheelchair. Henry has found a manuscript allegedly written by Hippocrates and asks Lucas to visit Ciara to translate it. They cut a deal with her working on the manuscript and he escorting her. As they fall in love, accidents begin to occur too frequently to be accidents.

The Circle of Sin historical romance is a fun tale starring a beleaguered heroine, a rakish antihero, the Scientific Sybils, the wealthy child, the uncle and razor thin villains. The story line is fast-paced though it remains somewhat by the sub-genre book in spite of the overall strong cast. Still fans will appreciate Lady Ciara as she challenges her in-laws, the Ton, and love with the incorrigible Mad Bad Had-ley at her side.

Harriet Klausner