Customer Reviews

The Sinner

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

 

 

Dante Duclairc, beautiful and intoxicatingly handsome rake, has come to the end of his rope. He has gambled himself so deep into debt he is planning an escape the following morning for the continent before he is thrown into jail. Unfortunately, he has accidentally shot the very lovely and old family friend, Fluer Monley, in her "rear nether region" (...) - A long story you'll just have to read this for yourself..... Recognizing that this was the young woman his brother Adrian had jilted some years before, Dante was determined to make sure she was taken care of after she told him of the circumstances that had driven her to be running through the countryside that evening. Dante managed, with the help of some friends to fend off her step-father and see to her immediate safety, but ended up in debtors prison himself after putting off his own escape.

In order to further delay her step-father's nefarious plans for her, Fleur visits Dante in prison and proposes a `white marriage' arrangement to him. The deal would be his debts would be paid, and he'd be given an generous annual amount in return for allowing her an independence with no questions asked about her financial and charitable affairs. With very little choice, Dante accepts the arrangement not realizing that the gentle, beautiful Fluer would soon become the one and only most desirous woman he would want - yet didn't want him. Fluer who most certainly didn't want intimacy, fought the strange attraction and unusual heated responses Dante caused by his presence. With patience and trust Fluer and Dante began to build a relationship that just might blossom if they could only survive the treachery and attacks meant to destroy the fragile bonds that were being built.

In the fourth book of Madeline Hunter's latest regency series (note I say fourth and not last - I'm hoping for more) we see one more member of the Dueling Society get what's coming to him - a partner and soulmate for all times! Fluer (originally introduced in THE SAINT) was the almost fiance of his brother Adrian. Dante was the fun loving younger son, too beautiful for his own good, masterful lover with no sense of direction. With Fleur being persecuted by her step-father, Dante found a purpose and the soul searching and deeply sensual attempts in trying to rid Fleur of her fears was beautifully scripted as he tried to win her heart. While some might find this story slow - to a certain extent - the depth of the feelings was so beautifully scripted that I really didn't mind. Hunter also introduced us to some new players that just beg to have a story told. Hopefully one of them will be Dante's friend Ewan McClean. Bottom line - another satisfying read that I do recommend. ---Marilyn, (...)

"I do not think I could have been loved by a better man, Dante. Nor could I love one better than I love you."

Dante took her face in his two hands. "I want you to know something. I was always glad that we married, Fleur. If you had never been able to give yourself to me, I would have still cherished you and the love I have for you. I would have never regretted becoming your husband."

I just love Hunter's dialogue. This is the first book of the series that I read and I really enjoyed it. I was thoroughly entertained from the beginning to end. Some aspects of story were predictable, but it didn't matter because I was too engrossed to really notice or care.

UPDATE: I just read 3 other books in this series (The Romantic, The Seducer, and The Saint). If you can, read them in order. I believe it goes The Seducer, The Saint, The Charmer, The Sinner and The Romantic. Normally I don't mind reading books out of sequence, but this time it ruined the other stories for me. I definitely enjoyed The Sinner the most... then The Romantic, The Saint and The Seducer.

Our heroine is traumatized by events in her past that she really doesn't understand, and our hero's past has finally caught up with him. The characters from the first three books weave in and out of the story adding a depth that can only be found in a successful series. While the pace of The Sinner was a bit more relaxed than that of the first three books in this series, it was definitely worth reading.

Others have done a fine job reviewing this book (except for the one reviewer who got several specific and key elements wrong), but I just have to comment on it.

I have not read other Madeline Hunter novels. I've been looking for a new series and picked up this book used when the blurb on the back piqued my interest. I enjoyed it for the most part. It was kinda cute, kinda predictable, somewhat sweet... but OH MY.

"The desire deepened, went lower. It filled her hips and made her vulva cry."

WHAT??? I'm not sure I'll be able to read another of her books solely because of that paragraph! How on earth can I ever take her seriously as an author when I've got THAT line running through my head???? Did no one else find this as absurd as I did???

I'll have to mull over reading anything else by her. My husband wants to forbid me to merely out of principle, but I probably won't listen -- just like Fleur, I'll ignore anything he says even if it IS for my own protection.

Dante Duclairc is exceptionally sexy! The book is a great love story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The best part was watching Dante turn from heartless, irresponsible rake to loving, protective husband. Additionally, watching the main couple's love grow for each other throughout the book until it climaxes (so to speak) was great fun. I am really enjoying this Dueling Society series immensely.

I had to put the book down when I learned the reason behind her fear of intimacy. Because she seen a birth when she was young and two friends died during child birth. Are you kidding me?? That is not a valid reason and makes her seem overly dramatic and childish. She should be embarassed by her ignorance. Then the way she trusts Siddel and blatantly ignores her husbands warning. And furthermore she does nothing to halt the rumors. In fact, she feeds oil to the fire by continuing her walks alone and having a jealous fit at her re-entry into society. She had no right to react that way when she made the marriage white because of her childish fear. Uggghhhhhhhhhh!!! i hate her so much I can't even finish the book.

This is a good read specially if you have the books of the series.I expected more challenges between the heroes.The end was too mellow,giving the author's description of the hero in the other books.But all and all,a good escape.

I enjoyed reading The Sinner, another well-written romance by Madeline Hunter. This could easily have been 5 stars, as I really laughed at some of Dante's quips and loved the way his friends stood up for him. But Fleur persisted in acting so stubbornly stupid, acting against her own best interests, that at one point I began to wonder if she really was crazy, as her step-father portrayed her to be. I needed a better explanation for her stupidity than that provided in the story. Anyway, despite Fleur's idiocy, it was a good read, and overall, better than most.

At times the book was absorbing, but at others, it was dull. The lead couple was not particularly interesting; they weren't awful, but they weren't exceptional in any meaningful way. Too much was said, rather than shown. The mystery remained fairly interesting, although the cast of villains and suspected villains sometimes became confusing and some of them remained enigmas through the end.

I always get the feeling that there's something missing in Ms. Hunter's books...some emotional connection for the reader. There's a sense of distance, an invisible wall between the characters and the reader that is never quite breached. This one is no different.

The other books in this series were OK. I found this book too slow paced to stay interested for long. It was very easy to put the book aside in favor of other books. I think the reason Fleur Monley desired the 'white marriage' was a weak excuse considering the extent of her fear. When her reason was revealed I thought,"That's all?" As for Dante, I didn't care for him much. He seemed too juvenile to me. He was very irresponsible. While this book isn't awful, the others in the series are better. The only real reason I can see to read this book is that the reader would want to finish up the entire series, not leaving a book unread.