15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Weak storyline with lots of sex, but not much romance, November 11, 2006
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.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Dull., November 8, 2006
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.
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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fifth Boscastle Falls to Love, October 31, 2006
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!
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