THE SINNER

Author: Madeline Hunter ISBN:0553585924 1/2004 HISTORICAL Publisher: BANTAM
Time Period: 19th century England

Wearing nothing but a man’s nightshirt, Fleur Monley woke to find herself in the bed of England’s most charming and reckless libertine. But it was stray gunshot, not passion, that put her at the mercy of a man as infamously handsome as he was famously talented in the arts of love. Believing herself immune to any seduction, Fleur thought herself perfectly safe to make him an offer no sensible woman would dare risk: half her fortune for the freedom she would gain by being his wife—in name only. Desperately in need of funds, Dante Duclairc could do worse than the "white marriage" proposed by this idealistic beauty too naive to know the danger she courted. But the rashest thing he ever did was tell himself he’d be able to resist the invitation to sin that this lovely innocent would arouse at every turn—or that he’d be able to protect her from both the enemies that ruthlessly sought her ruin, and his own dangerous desire.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Okay. Good, but lacking something. Wonderful mystery but not a lot of sizzle. That is how I describe Madeline Hunter's new one, THE SINNER. THE SINNER is the current book in Hunter's Seducer series.

Though I truly enjoyed the intrigue and the storyline, the romance was not hot enough for me. The hero, Dante (love the name) is supposedly sexy enough to have anyone he wants. Unfortunately he never does anything enough to make me really want him. The heroine, Fleur (hated the name) is alluded to being a beauty, but again, never fully described. Not that beauty does it for me but that is partially what this story is about. Together Dante and Fleur only make one half of a fantasy couple.

The characters' situations and circumstance are wonderfully plotted. The revealing of Fleur's marvelous mind and Dante's admission of being a wastrel was refreshing to read about. There are so many pluses to this book that I am disappointed to say that I don't love it. I actually am shaking my head in amazement that I don't love it. But, I don't.

Quite a lot of detail was put into this book and that alone makes it a worthy read. Such attention to little things is no doubt difficult for an author and that she accomplishes this so beautifully, should make Madeline Hunter very happy with this release. I just wish it was enough for me.

Shannon Johnson