Customer Reviews

The Sinful Nights of a Nobleman: A Novel (Boscastle Family)

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

 

 

Elusive bachelor Lord Devon Boscastle is caught in a compromising position with the virtuous Miss Jocelyn Lidbury, and his life is forever changed. An unknown foe tricks the couple - who barely know each other - into a secluded nighttime rendezvous at a house party. Jocelyn thinks she is meeting her beau to receive a marriage proposal, and Devon anticipates a tryst with a promiscuous widow. Both Jocelyn and Devon are in disguise and, by the time they realize their true identities, things between them have gotten pretty heated. A group of houseguests then barges in, exposing Jocelyn to ruin. Devon is a gentleman, so he immediately offers to marry her, and she has no real choice but to accept. In truth, there is a strong attraction between them. But Devon has no interest in giving up his carefree single lifestyle to attend to his new wife, and regularly leaves her home alone while he is out about town. After all, he was kind enough to marry her, he is a good provider, and he is extremely attentive in bed. Surely that is good enough...isn't it?

I really liked the previous book in this series. This one started out OK, but then disappointed. There was not much to the story or to the couple's relationship, other than sex. They started out as virtual strangers and this didn't change much by the end of the story. There was very little spark between them, and the love scenes were explicit, but not particularly sensual or romantic. Devon limited his conversation with Jocelyn, and he avoided her all day long, and yet he stomped and snorted like a caged bull whenever another man looked at her. He would sometimes do something nice for Jocelyn, or would come to some kind of understanding with her, and then he would spoil it by running off. This soon became tedious. Also, Jocelyn's relationship with her father and brother was just left hanging after an intriguing lead-in. On the plus side, Jocelyn has a refreshing directness, including her approach to lovemaking. Also, Devon redeemed himself well in the end...I just didn't care enough by then.

Oh, how I wanted to love Devon's book! He was such a charming rascal in "Wicked..." and such a bore in "Sinful..". There was no meat to this story. The back of the books summarizes it nicely. What would have made a better short story in an anthology was dragged on for over 300 pages. I admit I only made through about half before skimming and realizing it wasn't going to get any better.

There's no sizzling tension, the love scenes weak, and the mystery is predictable. I had such high expectations for this Boscastle book since Drake's was brilliant and Devon's character seemed such a lovable rogue.

Not a keeper for me.

Again Jillian Hunter uses her special magic to perfectly blend romance with humor and a tad bit of mystery to come up with a sure bestseller!

The Boscastles remain my favorite fictional family of all time and this novel focuses on Devon, the youngest eligible male. He's the hottest bachelor in London and probably the most wicked, at least he's trying to live up to those less than high standards and doing a great job.

At an annual function in the English countryside, the guests are more interested in trysts and romantic interludes than the games and functions the host has arranged. Lord Devon has his eye set on a young widow who is rumored to be a tigress in the bedroom. He's after a willing woman who can share his passions and he's sure the widow is a perfect choice.

An anonymous note is slipped under his bed inviting him to the tower for a romantic meeting at midnight and Devon assumes it's from the widow. However, the innocently attractive Jocelyn Lydbury also receives a note and assumes it's from a man courting her. Hoping for a marriage proposal she goes to the tower for the meeting. Strange that the note states they should be in masks but neither think anything of it.

Both are surprised after one of those fireworks blasting in the sky kisses to realize that their willing partner is not the person they thought. However, before they can sort out the deception, they are interrupted by a search party. Now who could have alerted everyone that they were gone? Caught in this scandalous situation, Devon is forced to agree to marry Jocelyn.

It is a typical romance, with Jocelyn falling in love with Devon and thinking he only married her because he was forced to... however, Devon however has fallen hard himself. This would have been a bit on the boring side if we didn't also have the villain trying to cause problems in the Boscastles' lives. The mystery portion is not difficult to figure out but it is interesting to see Devon slowly come to the same conclusion as the reader.

The best part of this book is the humor. When the widow won't stop flirting with Devon at the party in the country, Jocelyn is angered. The luck of the draw has Jocelyn matched against her in a game of badminton and much to my enjoyment, Jocelyn becomes a woman bent on revenge. She ends up smashing the sly widow across the nose with her racket. Oh my yes, it was absolutely wonderful and laughing out loud was an absolute given!

The romance portion has some hot and steamy scenes that are not for the faint of heart or the easily embarrassed (young readers should not read this book). For those sturdy enough to read these passages, they can definitely be mood enhancers.

My only complaint is that there are only six siblings and this is book number five, with only one unmarried Boscastle left. I'm hoping that Hunter deviates a bit and includes Gabriel Boscastle (the crafty cousin) in a book. After that one, she can begin on the children these siblings have, like Nora Roberts did with the MacGregor clan. My fingers are crossed that the next book is not the last for this wonderful, dynamic family.

The last of this trilogy is due out soon and will focus on Emma Boscastle - the Little General, as her family lovingly calls her. If she's anything like the other five I've read about, I can't wait!

I have to agree with just about everyone who has reviewed this book.
It lacked an interesting story and even the sex left a lot to be desired.
You could not get into either Devon or Jocelyn'a characters. There was no spark between the two and the book made no sense at all.
The entire book just dragged on and on. I could hardly wait to finish it.

I finished this book in one day! Devon and Jocelyn has a history and when they find themselves at the same house party chaos explodes. I don't want to give to much away but this story has lots of lies but Devon and Jocelyn have a mature response the lies swarming around them.... Check out the whole Boscastle Family series;1. The Seduction of an English Scoundrel (2005)2. The Love Affair of an English Lord (2005)3. The Wedding Night of an English Rogue (2005)4. The Wicked Games of a Gentleman (2006)5. The Sinful Nights of a Nobleman (2006)6. The Devilish Pleasures of a Duke (2007)

Hunter weaves a masterful tale of seduction and passion in "The Sinful Nights of a Nobleman." Devon Boscastle is a rakehell who has no desire to settle down and find a wife - until he's forced into a marriage of convenience with a young debutante, Jocelyn Lydbury. For Devon, there's nothing as passionate or as sexy than falling in love with his own wife!

The novel opens with Devon attending a social party in Essex. Several games and events are planned and the party is scheduled to last a week. At the party he encounters a young debutante, Jocelyn Lydbury. Four years ago her father invited Devon to dinner to meet her and Devon stood her up. After all, he has no desire to get married.

Devon trades barbs with Jocelyn and finds her to be enchanting. Later that night, Devon and Jocelyn each receive letters to meet in the castle's tower - masked. While masked, they share an intimate embrace. It's then they realize who each other are and that they didn't write the letters that lured them to the tower. Too late - Jocelyn's father, a tyrant of a man, finds the couple in a compromising position and insists they marry.

Devon does the right thing and agrees. Despite himself, Jocelyn has made a dent in his carefully constructed armor. She's sweet and demur. His heart goes out to her when he discovers how her father had mistreated her. He also finds her inexperience appealing. Throughout the novel, Both Devon and Jocelyn are harassed by minor incidents which are meant to make them look bad, but both rise above the incidents. Can they find love despite a hastily arranged marriage?



This is the fifth in the Boscastle romance series, and I've enjoyed all the novels so far. I didn't think I would like this one as much as the previous ones because Devon seems so self-absorbed in the others, but this one really highlighted the complexities of his character. Devon was very likable and romantic. The novel is fast paced and moves quickly. The plot is credible, but there were a couple of holes. Devon and Jocelyn are interesting, but I would have liked to have seen more "bonding" scenes between the couple, especially regarding how Jocelyn's family treats her. I was also surprised to see that Jocelyn's father, who insisted on the wedding, wasn't there. The last "hole" in the plot, is making Thurlew the instigator of the harassing incidents between the couple. It would have made more sense to have Jocelyn's brother write the notes and be the harasser of the incidents. Not only that, it would have been good fuel for more bonding scenes between Jocelyn and Devon.

The supporting cast is engaging and interesting. Hunter's love scenes are passionate, yet tasteful; erotic and sensual. The scene where Devon makes love to Jocelyn after finding her with Gabriel is especially erotic and powerful. It's not just a sex scene, but it's Devon giving into the love he's found with Jocelyn.

"The Sinful Nights of a Nobleman," is a romance that will keep the reader turning the page.

I really don't understand why people say this is boring...or why they say any of her other books are dull as well. Jillian Hunter writes amazingly realistically, down-to-earth dialogue, and even the way people say things, with certain feelings. She describes characters' actions so well, it's like watching a movie in my head. As for this story, just another great, steamy favorite that's going in my favorites' shelf!

I can't agree with the negative reviews here. I found the story very enjoyable. It may have differed in tone from other books in the Boscastle series (they're all unique in my opinion) but I liked the interaction between the characters. Having read the other books in the series, I felt the storyline was apt for Devon. Furthermore, some of the complaints addressed in other reviews regarding missing aspects of the story do not have merit. I found these "gaps" or questions answered later in the story.

England 1815

THE SINFUL NIGHTS OF A NOBLEMAN is a nonchalant novel compared to the other Boscastle tales, but it's still a good read. Lord Devon is as enticing as his brothers, but his tale of love is not as demanding as the first books in the series. You can't help but like Jocelyn and you're happy they find true love.

This was a good, fast paced novel. I agree more could have been done with it (there could have been more conflict between the characters, arguments were a bit weak and I wondered what happened to Jocelyn's father), still was a fun read. Somebody said it had lots of sex. It really didn't, just had the average amount that any romance has. Wonder when Gabriel's story will be written, I like him.