American artist Jeremy Keane is attending a wedding
breakfast, he does't want to be there, but he must; he
loathes weddings for personal reasons. He suffers from a
lack of inspiration, he's searching for a muse, and then
he sees her. She is Lady Yvette Barlow.
Jeremy strikes up a conversation with a gentleman who
happens to be Yvette's brother, Edwin Barlow, Earl of
Blakeborough. Jeremy's mother and sister are coming to
London; Jeremy feels his sister Amanda should get
married, and Jeremy reluctantly accepts to paint a
portrait of Yvette, if Edwin helps Jeremy in his quest
for a suitor for Amanda. Jeremy gathers he can always try
to convince Yvette to agree to sit in secret for what
would be his masterpiece: Art Sacrificed to Commerce.
THE ART OF SINNING is mostly a character-based story, and
what characters they are: whether leads or secondary
characters, they are all well-rounded and captivating.
Jeremy appears to be a rogue because it suits his
purposes, and while Yvette is known to enjoy the company
of scoundrels because they amuse her, she is aware of her
reputation and remains seemingly untouchable. Scandal
follows the Barlows wherever they go, so she must tread
carefully, but when a family matters requires action,
she's the one who handles it. Yvette is a splendid
character: she is brave, loyal, and resourceful; she is
extremely beautiful but she lacks self-confidence to a
degree, knowing only too well that her being wealthy and
alluring makes her desirable to the wrong men; she has
been burned before, she is wary, even though she is a
very passionate woman.
THE ART OF SINNING is a fast-paced romance with an
underlying suspense. Ms. Jeffries's prose is easy and
elegant, the dialogues are impeccable, and I was
impressed the author's research and understanding of the
creative and behavioural processes an artist goes
through. The romance between Jeremy and Yvette simmers
before coming to a furious boil, while a few startling
plot twists in the Yvette's enquiry lead to an unexpected
albeit glorious conclusion. THE ART OF SINNING is a
brilliant first instalment of what promises to be a very
interesting series; well done, Ms. Jeffries!
The first novel in the Sinful Suitors series by New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries! At St. George’s Club, guardians conspire to keep their unattached sisters and wards out of the clutches of sinful suitors. Which works fine…except when the sinful suitors are members! American artist Jeremy Keane refuses to return home and take over his father’s business. He’d much rather sample bevvies of beauties abroad, in search of a model for the provocative masterpiece he’s driven to paint. When he meets Lady Yvette Barlow at a London wedding, he realizes she’s perfect for his work—and determines to capture the young heiress’s defiant spirit and breathtaking sensuality on canvas. No stranger to scandal, Yvette agrees to be Keane’s subject—in exchange for his help gaining entry to the city’s brothels he knows intimately, so she can track a missing woman and solve a family mystery. But when their practical partnership leads to lessons in the art of sinning, can they find a bold and lasting love?
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