A Novel with Thoughts and Ponderings

TOO SINFUL TO DENY

Author: Erica Ridley ISBN: 9781420109948 4/2011 HISTORICAL Publisher: ZEBRA
Time Period: 1814 Regency

Too Sinful to Deny by Erica Ridley
One look at the towering ocean-side manor that is to be her new home, and exiled socialite Susan Stanton knows: This is a place haunted by secrets, and riddled with menace.

For Susan, there is no escaping it. At best she can stay clear of the most dangerous element of all—dark-haired smuggler Evan Bothwick, a man whose shaded countenance cannot hide his wicked intent.

But Susan has a secret of her own—a special gift that renders her privy to the darkest mysteries lurking within the walls of the manor and in the labyrinthine cellars beneath. And the only man who can help her make sense of it all is Evan, the very scoundrel and rogue she would do anything to be able to resist...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS: 4 Rose Read

I adored Ridley's first gothic historical romance, TOO WICKED TO KISS, and was eagerly awaiting this next book (which features the cousin of the main character in TOO WICKED).  It did not disappoint at all!

Gothic romances and me have a sort of love/hate relationship; and make no mistake, this is definitely a gothic romance.  There are more dead bodies in this book than eligible bachelors—and there's about twice as many suspicious characters besides. 

Susan was quirky, curious, and determined to do the right thing, even at the expense of her own life (multiple times, at that).  She was as quick with her tongue as she was with her smiles, and infinitely clever. 

Evan was a puzzle, a smuggler, and libertine; he didn't quite fit the same mold the others in the book were in.  Which, outside of being explained later on, are shown through his actions.  He fell in with a rough crowd, but he never seemed as... menacing as they did.  I could easily see Ollie being a murderous creep—abusing his wife, threatening everyone in the village—this all seemed plausible with him.

Evan was dangerous and dark, but he showed too much consideration for Susan to be as threatening as pretty much every other guy in the book.

Evan and Susan have a fractious relationship from the get-go.  Despite being sent down from her home because of a scandal, Susan was dead certain that, in time, things would blow over.  She did not want to be distracted by a pair of gorgeous eyes and a sinful smile, and yet she couldn't help but trust him. 

Ridley never lets the sense of evil disappear.  Whether it's a skulking shadow, ominously phrased sentence, or outright threats, the creepiness of what was going on permeated the book completely.  It made me wonder at Susan's parents, however—they did no research at all?  No one thought it prudent to perhaps ensure that the cousin they were shipping her off to was still alive?

My only complaint is the 'epilogue'.  While it's great to read more about a happier time for the survivors, it didn't fit the overall feel of the book.  This was an enjoyable read, and it had me covered in goose bumps the entire time.  The mystery, romance, and menace served to make for an atmospheric read I couldn't put down!

Alexandra Cenni

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