What do you think?
Rate this book
Sinners and Saints #2
Sinfully Scandalous
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
It's an order Luxi, Sin of Lust, never saw coming. When you work for Lucifer, though, you tend to lay off the questions. She isn't comforted when she discovers her assignment is to intern for a preacher-turned-politician, especially when her directive goes no further. As Luxi prepares for a long ride to nowhere, she can't help but wonder if something else is at play ... or what the King of Hell has up his sleeve.
Grayson Bailey's run for state senate is going nowhere fast. The poll numbers are depressing, his campaign advisor is on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and someone out there has a bullet with his name on it. Yet when temptation herself struts through the door with a sassy smirk and an attitude to match, Grayson finds it very hard to remember which obligations are at the top.
The closer Grayson gets to Luxi, the stranger his life becomes. With Election Day--and a psycho with a gun--just around the corner, he can't afford any detours. And while Luxi never puts her heart on the line, there's something about this man that tests her resolve ... though it might end up costing her more than she can afford.
It's an order Luxi, Sin of Lust, never saw coming. When you work for Lucifer, though, you tend to lay off the questions. She isn't comforted when she discovers her assignment is to intern for a preacher-turned-politician, especially when her directive goes no further. As Luxi prepares for a long ride to nowhere, she can't help but wonder if something else is at play ... or what the King of Hell has up his sleeve.
Grayson Bailey's run for state senate is going nowhere fast. The poll numbers are depressing, his campaign advisor is on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and someone out there has a bullet with his name on it. Yet when temptation herself struts through the door with a sassy smirk and an attitude to match, Grayson finds it very hard to remember which obligations are at the top.
The closer Grayson gets to Luxi, the stranger his life becomes. With Election Day--and a psycho with a gun--just around the corner, he can't afford any detours. And while Luxi never puts her heart on the line, there's something about this man that tests her resolve ... though it might end up costing her more than she can afford.
- GenresParanormalErotica
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Rosalie Stanton
35 books160 followersRosalie Stanton is the retired penname of an award-winning author Holly Denise. All previously released Rosalie Stanton books have been or will be released as Holly Denise, and no new Rosalie Stanton titles are forthcoming.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 22, 2012
This second installment is as good, if not better, than the first. I love the characters and world Rosalie Stanton has created. A true treat if you're in the market for something unique and fresh.
As a side, I am Rosalie's crit partner. However, my reaction to this series is honest. It's one of my favorites.
As a side, I am Rosalie's crit partner. However, my reaction to this series is honest. It's one of my favorites.
January 17, 2012
Fabulous second to the Sinner and Saints series! Personal favorite of Rosalie's works! Luxi is dynamic as the heroine and Sin of Lust. Grayson is delicious as a the hero. Good man with good morals...and a hot attraction to Luxi! Hot with plot! Best kind of story!
June 22, 2012
This copy was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Kindle Edition, published January 15th, 2012
Liquid Silver Books
Luxi is one of the Seven Sins for Lucifer’s sake – the Sin of Lust! Why has the boss send her on this bogus assignment? Don’t seduce him; work on his campaign. It makes no sense – and it makes even less sense that the guy is drop dead gorgeous. Grayson Bailey is a preacher!
From their very first meeting on he’s intrigued by Luxi and her one-of-a-kind personality. He struggles hard to keep his focus. The two are headed for hell and maybe, just maybe, that’s going to be a good thing. With attraction burning hot and a bullet with the preacher’s name on it they have a lot on their hands. Telling him that everything he believes in is true; just not in a way he could’ve ever imagined? Certainly not the best idea…
Stanton has perfected the art of writing a hilariously – laugh your behind off – funny paranormal romance with humanized characters. Normally I go for the; let’s say a little more complex paranormal romance novels that dab into the urban fantasy genre, but with this second book in the Sinners and Saints series the author has me hooked. Yes, it’s book #2. I recommend reading them in order (it’s not a must though).
We’ve got the heroine on the cover - front and center. Of course I feel the need to mention this, for one doesn’t come across too many (aside from UF). I really liked that Luxi was determined, strong, sometimes bitchy and most of all very level-headed. You heard right! Expect a couple of tantrums and confrontations. However, she actually kept her cool even in the midst of a complete freak-out. Read the book and you’ll see that this is really not a contradiction. Luxi had spunk and was witty. Great idea to have her lock horns with the hero’s long-time friend and campaign manager. The things that came out of his mouth! What fun to witness Luxi give as good as she got.
No wonder Grayson was drawn to her. He was wonderfully out of his element with her, yet strangely fascinated by the raw energy that surrounded Luxi. I definitely felt the connection and was hoping it would stay that way throughout the book. The unfolding story exceeded my expectations. Their bond grew stronger and stronger. They couldn’t do anything about it; it simply happened. This helped a lot in terms of getting over my insta-love phobia! There was no way to escape the pull they had on each other. In fact, I very much enjoyed this aspect of their relationship. The between the sheets action was sinfully satisfactory.
Lucifer, oh Lucifer! I was and still am utterly enraptured by him. Crushing on the King of Lies! Stanton did an exceptionally good job in creating this character. Now, there’s something I’m afraid of. I’m afraid the author won’t go in for the kill – so to speak – by not giving Lucifer his own book. I have not heard of or read one with Lucifer as the main protagonist (antihero if you will) before. Stanton has to make it happen. This is a deal breaker for me! I’m certain you all will feel the same way.
Luxi’s and Grayson’s story was entertaining beyond belief and I read it in one sitting. One can’t talk of on-point one liners, because it was the whole story that brought the LOLs. If I didn’t know any better I’d say the author experimented with laughing gas while writing the book. There was a great deal of humor to basically every layer…the plot, the characters, even the various settings. Major props for pulling this off!
Brace yourselves; something rubbed me the wrong way after all. To me, the end seemed premature. Half-cooked even! What about the campaign, his campaign manager, the death threat (the story behind it / follow-up)? It was all cut off mid-air; especially so with John being such a good friend of Grayson’s! He was a secondary character, but a rather important one; then suddenly…POOF…change of direction (as in he was not mentioned again / lack of a satisfying conclusion). The big revelation shouldn’t have led to other plot lines being abandoned.
Nevertheless, this series has a fabulous premise and the author has cooked up interesting characters. Luxi and Grayson were an unlikely match…which made it all the more enjoyable to accompany them on their journey. I was not about to leave their side, not even for just a second. Imagination running wild! Colorful and emotion-filled writing. A fun read! A phrase often used, but seldom fitting to a T. 4 stars to Sinfully Scandalous by Rosalie Stanton.
Beware of Spoilers!
A few of my favorite quotes for those of you who are interested:
° “...banished from the Garden, but remained on good terms with Lucifer after he explained it was merely a social experiment and nothing personal.”
° “Big J and Lucifer’s low-stakes wager [...] more than just a weekly gamble.”
° “You want me to infect him with lust so he humps and intern or something?”
° “...at every turn, Big J struck her as an enormous tool with size issues...”
° “...believing we exist is perfectly sane. Discovering they’re right is crazy.”
Kindle Edition, published January 15th, 2012
Liquid Silver Books
Luxi is one of the Seven Sins for Lucifer’s sake – the Sin of Lust! Why has the boss send her on this bogus assignment? Don’t seduce him; work on his campaign. It makes no sense – and it makes even less sense that the guy is drop dead gorgeous. Grayson Bailey is a preacher!
From their very first meeting on he’s intrigued by Luxi and her one-of-a-kind personality. He struggles hard to keep his focus. The two are headed for hell and maybe, just maybe, that’s going to be a good thing. With attraction burning hot and a bullet with the preacher’s name on it they have a lot on their hands. Telling him that everything he believes in is true; just not in a way he could’ve ever imagined? Certainly not the best idea…
Stanton has perfected the art of writing a hilariously – laugh your behind off – funny paranormal romance with humanized characters. Normally I go for the; let’s say a little more complex paranormal romance novels that dab into the urban fantasy genre, but with this second book in the Sinners and Saints series the author has me hooked. Yes, it’s book #2. I recommend reading them in order (it’s not a must though).
We’ve got the heroine on the cover - front and center. Of course I feel the need to mention this, for one doesn’t come across too many (aside from UF). I really liked that Luxi was determined, strong, sometimes bitchy and most of all very level-headed. You heard right! Expect a couple of tantrums and confrontations. However, she actually kept her cool even in the midst of a complete freak-out. Read the book and you’ll see that this is really not a contradiction. Luxi had spunk and was witty. Great idea to have her lock horns with the hero’s long-time friend and campaign manager. The things that came out of his mouth! What fun to witness Luxi give as good as she got.
No wonder Grayson was drawn to her. He was wonderfully out of his element with her, yet strangely fascinated by the raw energy that surrounded Luxi. I definitely felt the connection and was hoping it would stay that way throughout the book. The unfolding story exceeded my expectations. Their bond grew stronger and stronger. They couldn’t do anything about it; it simply happened. This helped a lot in terms of getting over my insta-love phobia! There was no way to escape the pull they had on each other. In fact, I very much enjoyed this aspect of their relationship. The between the sheets action was sinfully satisfactory.
Lucifer, oh Lucifer! I was and still am utterly enraptured by him. Crushing on the King of Lies! Stanton did an exceptionally good job in creating this character. Now, there’s something I’m afraid of. I’m afraid the author won’t go in for the kill – so to speak – by not giving Lucifer his own book. I have not heard of or read one with Lucifer as the main protagonist (antihero if you will) before. Stanton has to make it happen. This is a deal breaker for me! I’m certain you all will feel the same way.
Luxi’s and Grayson’s story was entertaining beyond belief and I read it in one sitting. One can’t talk of on-point one liners, because it was the whole story that brought the LOLs. If I didn’t know any better I’d say the author experimented with laughing gas while writing the book. There was a great deal of humor to basically every layer…the plot, the characters, even the various settings. Major props for pulling this off!
Brace yourselves; something rubbed me the wrong way after all. To me, the end seemed premature. Half-cooked even! What about the campaign, his campaign manager, the death threat (the story behind it / follow-up)? It was all cut off mid-air; especially so with John being such a good friend of Grayson’s! He was a secondary character, but a rather important one; then suddenly…POOF…change of direction (as in he was not mentioned again / lack of a satisfying conclusion). The big revelation shouldn’t have led to other plot lines being abandoned.
Nevertheless, this series has a fabulous premise and the author has cooked up interesting characters. Luxi and Grayson were an unlikely match…which made it all the more enjoyable to accompany them on their journey. I was not about to leave their side, not even for just a second. Imagination running wild! Colorful and emotion-filled writing. A fun read! A phrase often used, but seldom fitting to a T. 4 stars to Sinfully Scandalous by Rosalie Stanton.
Beware of Spoilers!
A few of my favorite quotes for those of you who are interested:
° “...banished from the Garden, but remained on good terms with Lucifer after he explained it was merely a social experiment and nothing personal.”
° “Big J and Lucifer’s low-stakes wager [...] more than just a weekly gamble.”
° “You want me to infect him with lust so he humps and intern or something?”
° “...at every turn, Big J struck her as an enormous tool with size issues...”
° “...believing we exist is perfectly sane. Discovering they’re right is crazy.”
January 30, 2012
Things have been tough for the sins since Ava handed in her notice. All the Sins have been taken off duty for the foreseeable future, that is until Luxi gets pulled in for a special assignment. As the Sin of lust, Luxi has seduced good men from one side of the planet to the next. For this assignment, Lucifer has a different plan. She isn’t allowed to seduce the politician she is assigned to, she isn’t allowed to cause him to fall for some inappropriate target; she is simply allowed to watch over him and his campaign. The former preacher is a perfect target for her more unusual skills, but Lucifer forbids her to touch him. Problem is Luxi seems to be having a problem with this particular rule….
Grayson Bailey is a former preacher who has decided to run for state senate. The campaign isn’t going great, but it looks like it may get worse when a walking, talking distraction walks through the door as his new intern. Luxi doesn’t look the part, doesn’t act the part and doesn’t seem to know the part, but she certainly catches his attention. Once the sparks begin to fly, it looks like Luxi will be failing her mission. However, Lucifer has never been one for babysitting missions, is this one more than it seems? And can a relationship built on lies ever survive? And how will Grayson take it when he finds out that his temptress Intern is actually one of the devil’s own creations?
Gah! There is so much I could say about this book but I class so much of it as spoiler related territory. One thing I will warn you; if you are a little on the religious side this may not be the book for you. This book has alternative Christian history, a Devil playing the nice guy and Jesus referred to as Big J. I found it all imaginative, entertaining and interesting but I’ve never been particularly religious. You still interested in this book? Good, let’s carry on.
Luxi was a character that fascinated me from book one. The embodiment of lust, she has come to realise that the only reason she is ever useful to people is for her looks. Obviously this causes some massive issues with her confidence. When she meets Grayson, obviously the first thing that he sees is her looks. He is just the same as any other man to her because he looks at her purely on the superficial level. To be honest, he wasn’t really worthy of her at the start. She obviously wants more from him; she takes him to the Devils dinner party at one point and he gets introduced to the rest of the Sin’s. She feels awful for lying to him, for keeping her true identity from him, but she can’t do anything else. She realises that when he finds out what she truly is, there is no way that he will want her. The odds are really stacked against them and I honestly couldn’t see how it would all be resolved. He does start to value her, but I worried that it was all going to come down like a house of cards if he found out what she was. I can honestly say that this was a book where I did not see ANY of the twists coming; one thing I love about PNR is that the nature of them allows them to become more unpredictable.
I don’t want to mention the side plots, the alternative religion plot that lies alongside the love story and makes everything more complicated, but it is fabulous. I want to read Lucifer’s story, I really really REALLY want to read it. I loved the thought of the constant battle between good and evil being more of an agreement. You have to realise that this is a story told from the point of view of the bad side; things are never the way that you would imagine. The sex scenes were not quite as smutty as the first one, and not as smutty as I have seen from Ms Stanton previously, but they were certainly hot enough, and sweet enough, to keep me more than entertained.
Overall a book which lived up to my expectations. Luxi was a fabulously damaged character who needed someone as sweet as Grayson to show her that she was more than just a sex-toy. With steamy sex scenes, a fabulous side plot and secondary characters to get your teeth into, I can’t wait to see what comes up with next. I’d like Pixley to get a book but I have no idea who will put up with her!
Grayson Bailey is a former preacher who has decided to run for state senate. The campaign isn’t going great, but it looks like it may get worse when a walking, talking distraction walks through the door as his new intern. Luxi doesn’t look the part, doesn’t act the part and doesn’t seem to know the part, but she certainly catches his attention. Once the sparks begin to fly, it looks like Luxi will be failing her mission. However, Lucifer has never been one for babysitting missions, is this one more than it seems? And can a relationship built on lies ever survive? And how will Grayson take it when he finds out that his temptress Intern is actually one of the devil’s own creations?
Gah! There is so much I could say about this book but I class so much of it as spoiler related territory. One thing I will warn you; if you are a little on the religious side this may not be the book for you. This book has alternative Christian history, a Devil playing the nice guy and Jesus referred to as Big J. I found it all imaginative, entertaining and interesting but I’ve never been particularly religious. You still interested in this book? Good, let’s carry on.
Luxi was a character that fascinated me from book one. The embodiment of lust, she has come to realise that the only reason she is ever useful to people is for her looks. Obviously this causes some massive issues with her confidence. When she meets Grayson, obviously the first thing that he sees is her looks. He is just the same as any other man to her because he looks at her purely on the superficial level. To be honest, he wasn’t really worthy of her at the start. She obviously wants more from him; she takes him to the Devils dinner party at one point and he gets introduced to the rest of the Sin’s. She feels awful for lying to him, for keeping her true identity from him, but she can’t do anything else. She realises that when he finds out what she truly is, there is no way that he will want her. The odds are really stacked against them and I honestly couldn’t see how it would all be resolved. He does start to value her, but I worried that it was all going to come down like a house of cards if he found out what she was. I can honestly say that this was a book where I did not see ANY of the twists coming; one thing I love about PNR is that the nature of them allows them to become more unpredictable.
I don’t want to mention the side plots, the alternative religion plot that lies alongside the love story and makes everything more complicated, but it is fabulous. I want to read Lucifer’s story, I really really REALLY want to read it. I loved the thought of the constant battle between good and evil being more of an agreement. You have to realise that this is a story told from the point of view of the bad side; things are never the way that you would imagine. The sex scenes were not quite as smutty as the first one, and not as smutty as I have seen from Ms Stanton previously, but they were certainly hot enough, and sweet enough, to keep me more than entertained.
Overall a book which lived up to my expectations. Luxi was a fabulously damaged character who needed someone as sweet as Grayson to show her that she was more than just a sex-toy. With steamy sex scenes, a fabulous side plot and secondary characters to get your teeth into, I can’t wait to see what comes up with next. I’d like Pixley to get a book but I have no idea who will put up with her!
January 25, 2012
Luxi is the Deadly Sin, Lust. She is sent on an assignment to work for preacher, turned politician, Grayson Bailey, as an intern. Lux isn't given any instructions beyond that. She's not supposed to seduce him or sleep with him. Lux isn't happy that she doesn't know what Lucifer has in store for Grayson but she is going to be a good employee and do what she is told. Grayson is a liberal preacher and the people of Springfield aren't too happy with his views. His polls numbers are in the toilet and he needs to get them up, fast. When Luxi walks into his campaign headquarters, poll numbers are the least of Grayson's worries. Grayson's attraction to Luxi is instantaneous and his priority is no longer his campaign.
Luxi is now one of my favorite PNR heroines. She is sassy, snarky and outrageously funny. She has no filter and I love it. I didn't expect there to be so much humor in Sinfully Scandalous. The funniest parts are when Luxi and Grayson's campaign manager, John, are going toe-to-toe with the insults. Luxi definitely held her own in dishing it. Grayson is a great hero. I wondered how his character was going to be written since he is a preacher. Grayson is sexy with a sense of humor and a great personality. He lives his life the best way he knows how and doesn't judge people based on appearances (unlike his campaign manager).
I know that the fact that Grayson is a preacher and is fornicating outside of marriage will probably turn people off but I loved it. It showed that even though he's a man of God, he's still just a man. Stanton did a great job of blurring the lines between good and evil. The running theme throughout this book is that it's not black or white; what's good isn't always good. And what's bad isn't always bad. Plus, I wouldn't have been mad if Grayson went over to the "dark side" cause I figured that that would be the only way for him and Luxi to be together.
Sinfully Scandalous is sinfully sexy. Remembering that Grayson is a man first, there are some smoking hot sex scenes between him and Luxi. I liked that there was a balance of sex and relationship development. It would have been too easy to have Luxi and Grayson to hump like rabbits and then at the end, have their HEA. Throughout the book, both Luxi and Grayson have to look at themselves and their issues. Luxi may be Sin but she has her own insecurities. Her exterior is snarky and confidence but inside she has insecurities like a normal woman.
Sinfully Scandalous exceeded my expectations. So far it is my favorite of the series (even though this is only book 2). I loved Luxi and Grayson. I loved the humor, the introduction of the other Sin siblings. We revisit Ava and Dante who are still happy and in love. I liked that I had no idea how Grayson and Luxi were going to end up together. I was completely taken by surprised. But I felt that how it was done, it was the only option.
Sinfully Scandalous is a great addition to the series. I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I could not put it down. If you're looking for a funny, sexy read, I highly recommend this one.
Luxi is now one of my favorite PNR heroines. She is sassy, snarky and outrageously funny. She has no filter and I love it. I didn't expect there to be so much humor in Sinfully Scandalous. The funniest parts are when Luxi and Grayson's campaign manager, John, are going toe-to-toe with the insults. Luxi definitely held her own in dishing it. Grayson is a great hero. I wondered how his character was going to be written since he is a preacher. Grayson is sexy with a sense of humor and a great personality. He lives his life the best way he knows how and doesn't judge people based on appearances (unlike his campaign manager).
I know that the fact that Grayson is a preacher and is fornicating outside of marriage will probably turn people off but I loved it. It showed that even though he's a man of God, he's still just a man. Stanton did a great job of blurring the lines between good and evil. The running theme throughout this book is that it's not black or white; what's good isn't always good. And what's bad isn't always bad. Plus, I wouldn't have been mad if Grayson went over to the "dark side" cause I figured that that would be the only way for him and Luxi to be together.
Sinfully Scandalous is sinfully sexy. Remembering that Grayson is a man first, there are some smoking hot sex scenes between him and Luxi. I liked that there was a balance of sex and relationship development. It would have been too easy to have Luxi and Grayson to hump like rabbits and then at the end, have their HEA. Throughout the book, both Luxi and Grayson have to look at themselves and their issues. Luxi may be Sin but she has her own insecurities. Her exterior is snarky and confidence but inside she has insecurities like a normal woman.
Sinfully Scandalous exceeded my expectations. So far it is my favorite of the series (even though this is only book 2). I loved Luxi and Grayson. I loved the humor, the introduction of the other Sin siblings. We revisit Ava and Dante who are still happy and in love. I liked that I had no idea how Grayson and Luxi were going to end up together. I was completely taken by surprised. But I felt that how it was done, it was the only option.
Sinfully Scandalous is a great addition to the series. I absolutely enjoyed reading this book. I could not put it down. If you're looking for a funny, sexy read, I highly recommend this one.
January 22, 2012
The Seven Deadly Sins, most of humanity is familiar with the concept, but they aren’t privy to the knowledge that they are actual flesh and blood beings created by Lucifer. In a Hell unlike any you’ve ever envisioned and a Heaven that isn’t quite like what your Sunday school teacher was talking about, things are in flux. Unbeknownst to Luxi, the Sin of lust, she is being used as a tool in a wager between Luc and the Big J. Her assignment is to intern for a state senate campaign in Springfield, Missouri. The candidate is one Reverend Grayson Bailey, and Luxi’s only instructions were Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery.
I waited a year for this book!!! And it was worth every single second!! I know some of the more high brow literary experts consider the Romance genre to be little more than fluff with little to no intrinsic value. To those people I say two things, first I say " Kiss my fluffy, romance reading butt" and second "You should read this book". It is absolutely PROFOUND. Yes it has really hot graphic sex (Yay!) and the characters curse and look pretty and say really snarky, funny things, but the layers and underlying themes of this book are just mind blowing. No, I am not trying to say that Rosalie Stanton has written an earth shattering religious treatise, what she wrote was an extremely intelligent and thought provoking story wrapped in a sexy and entertaining book with characters that don't put me to sleep or make me want to play in traffic. She didn't preach, lecture or proselytize. She used her incredible talent to present options that blurred the rigid lines of belief. (She also made me cry for the last ten pages, but more on that later). OK, I'm off the soapbox now. On to the good stuff....
I judge a book by my reactions to it, and I went through every possible reaction it was humanly possible to feel. I was absolutely drenched in these characters by the end of this book. Even as immortal supernatural beings they had wants and insecurities, flaws and hidden desires, and a need for acceptance of who they were. But I'm making it sound too serious and it doesn't read like that. It is a fun book and you don't realize you've been hit with a hugely emotional event until you're in it and you think "damn, how'd that happen?" I would read a full length novel about each character in this book, they were all that fascinating. Grayson was just a complete enigma, a liberal minister (and not the sleazy kind) in the Mid-West intrigued by his outspoken and sexy intern. He preaches tolerance and love thy neighbor. It was interesting to see his beliefs tested and challenged. Luxi was his perfect mate and I was skeptical that Ms. Stanton would be able to realistically pull that off . Like gangbusters, she did. There is also a few WTF moments that just shook me to the ground and some serious "Hellfire and Brimstone" action. Don't be surprised when you see this on my "Best of 2012" list. Please, Ms. Stanton, don't make me wait another year for the next one.
I waited a year for this book!!! And it was worth every single second!! I know some of the more high brow literary experts consider the Romance genre to be little more than fluff with little to no intrinsic value. To those people I say two things, first I say " Kiss my fluffy, romance reading butt" and second "You should read this book". It is absolutely PROFOUND. Yes it has really hot graphic sex (Yay!) and the characters curse and look pretty and say really snarky, funny things, but the layers and underlying themes of this book are just mind blowing. No, I am not trying to say that Rosalie Stanton has written an earth shattering religious treatise, what she wrote was an extremely intelligent and thought provoking story wrapped in a sexy and entertaining book with characters that don't put me to sleep or make me want to play in traffic. She didn't preach, lecture or proselytize. She used her incredible talent to present options that blurred the rigid lines of belief. (She also made me cry for the last ten pages, but more on that later). OK, I'm off the soapbox now. On to the good stuff....
I judge a book by my reactions to it, and I went through every possible reaction it was humanly possible to feel. I was absolutely drenched in these characters by the end of this book. Even as immortal supernatural beings they had wants and insecurities, flaws and hidden desires, and a need for acceptance of who they were. But I'm making it sound too serious and it doesn't read like that. It is a fun book and you don't realize you've been hit with a hugely emotional event until you're in it and you think "damn, how'd that happen?" I would read a full length novel about each character in this book, they were all that fascinating. Grayson was just a complete enigma, a liberal minister (and not the sleazy kind) in the Mid-West intrigued by his outspoken and sexy intern. He preaches tolerance and love thy neighbor. It was interesting to see his beliefs tested and challenged. Luxi was his perfect mate and I was skeptical that Ms. Stanton would be able to realistically pull that off . Like gangbusters, she did. There is also a few WTF moments that just shook me to the ground and some serious "Hellfire and Brimstone" action. Don't be surprised when you see this on my "Best of 2012" list. Please, Ms. Stanton, don't make me wait another year for the next one.
October 11, 2019
Reviewed by Robin
Book provided by the publisher
I found the second book or should I say second deadly sin to be Lust. I enjoyed once again the new take on what I learned in Sunday school. Let me say I am going to throw everything I learned out of the car window as Ms. Stanton’s version is so much more fun.
Midwest preacher meets Lust or in this case Luxi a little bit of a bi-ach or bratty. Luxi was sent to not seduce but watch over Grayson’s campaign. Like that is going to happen when your deadly sin is LUST. Go figure. What with the instant love they have for each other there is just no way that no touch thing is going to work. Even with his goody two shoes lifestyle. I found this story to have a multitude of unexpected surprises along with some witty dialogue and added with some very compromising positions makes this one surprising story. I liked these elements because they helped in giving us some rather hot and sensual sex.
Ms. Stanton has a way of adding those multi layers to her characters making it that much easier to relate to. They become very real. This story simply tells things like they are…no holds barred and that isn’t a bad thing. There were plenty of laughs my pants off moments just as there were twists that kept coming keeping me very entertained. I enjoyed the insults that were thrown between Luxi and John (Grayson’s campaign manager). Luxi proved how she could hold her own against anyone as she gave as good as she got.
I do have to say I am starting to re-think the whole good vs. evil…Jesus vs. Lucifer thing. I find that Lucifer the proverbial bad boy is becoming really interesting…and so very HOT!!!!! I can’t wait for the next deadly sin to appear.
Book provided by the publisher
I found the second book or should I say second deadly sin to be Lust. I enjoyed once again the new take on what I learned in Sunday school. Let me say I am going to throw everything I learned out of the car window as Ms. Stanton’s version is so much more fun.
Midwest preacher meets Lust or in this case Luxi a little bit of a bi-ach or bratty. Luxi was sent to not seduce but watch over Grayson’s campaign. Like that is going to happen when your deadly sin is LUST. Go figure. What with the instant love they have for each other there is just no way that no touch thing is going to work. Even with his goody two shoes lifestyle. I found this story to have a multitude of unexpected surprises along with some witty dialogue and added with some very compromising positions makes this one surprising story. I liked these elements because they helped in giving us some rather hot and sensual sex.
Ms. Stanton has a way of adding those multi layers to her characters making it that much easier to relate to. They become very real. This story simply tells things like they are…no holds barred and that isn’t a bad thing. There were plenty of laughs my pants off moments just as there were twists that kept coming keeping me very entertained. I enjoyed the insults that were thrown between Luxi and John (Grayson’s campaign manager). Luxi proved how she could hold her own against anyone as she gave as good as she got.
I do have to say I am starting to re-think the whole good vs. evil…Jesus vs. Lucifer thing. I find that Lucifer the proverbial bad boy is becoming really interesting…and so very HOT!!!!! I can’t wait for the next deadly sin to appear.
September 19, 2014
Sex, Sin, and Scandal by Rosalie Stanton was an absolute pleasure for me to read. Great characters, yummy sex, fast pace story and quick dialog are always a plus in my book. Throw in some unexpected surprises that kept me alternating between laughing and panting and I am one happy camper.
My initial impression of Luxi was brat. I mean when her boss/father sends her off on her latest assignment, she was so whiny until she got a credit card. It wasn't long before I knew better. Of course when her assignment is Grayson with a 'look but no touch' order you just know that little no touch was going to be quite the test for the little Sin of Lust. Now Grayson, he was quite the adorable one. Innocent preacher, but not too innocent that he didn't know what he was doing (Wink-wink!). Things do get yummy hot between Luxi and Grayson. However, that isn't the only thing going for they. Quick witty banter and compromising positions help to move this couple and story along. My favorite part of the book - when Luxi and John meet for the very first time and Grayson's reaction. I've gone back to it several times and it just gets funnier with each reading.
As for the rest of the secondary characters…LOVED THEM!!! I’m probably going to go to H3LL for this but I just love these stories where Lucifer/Satan/Devil (pick any one of those names) are portrayed as a more likable character versus a BE ALL EVIL entity…especially when humor is thrown in. Haven’t quite figured out if Big J is suppose to come off as an ass but he certainly wasn’t my favorite character (Ducks to avoid lightning bolt). I’m really hoping the rest of Luxi’s siblings get their own stories. Some no matter how much of a pain in the behind they came off as in the beginning, I adored them at the end. (Hello Gula!)
This is my first book by Ms Stanton and certainly will not be the last. Her story telling, sex scenes and characters all rate a winner-winner, chicken dinner rating from me. If you’re not reading Sex, Sin, and Scandal or Rosalie Stanton then you should. If you are then you’re probably as anxious as I am for the next book to come out. Can’t wait!
I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated.
Stars– 4.5, Flames – 3
My initial impression of Luxi was brat. I mean when her boss/father sends her off on her latest assignment, she was so whiny until she got a credit card. It wasn't long before I knew better. Of course when her assignment is Grayson with a 'look but no touch' order you just know that little no touch was going to be quite the test for the little Sin of Lust. Now Grayson, he was quite the adorable one. Innocent preacher, but not too innocent that he didn't know what he was doing (Wink-wink!). Things do get yummy hot between Luxi and Grayson. However, that isn't the only thing going for they. Quick witty banter and compromising positions help to move this couple and story along. My favorite part of the book - when Luxi and John meet for the very first time and Grayson's reaction. I've gone back to it several times and it just gets funnier with each reading.
As for the rest of the secondary characters…LOVED THEM!!! I’m probably going to go to H3LL for this but I just love these stories where Lucifer/Satan/Devil (pick any one of those names) are portrayed as a more likable character versus a BE ALL EVIL entity…especially when humor is thrown in. Haven’t quite figured out if Big J is suppose to come off as an ass but he certainly wasn’t my favorite character (Ducks to avoid lightning bolt). I’m really hoping the rest of Luxi’s siblings get their own stories. Some no matter how much of a pain in the behind they came off as in the beginning, I adored them at the end. (Hello Gula!)
This is my first book by Ms Stanton and certainly will not be the last. Her story telling, sex scenes and characters all rate a winner-winner, chicken dinner rating from me. If you’re not reading Sex, Sin, and Scandal or Rosalie Stanton then you should. If you are then you’re probably as anxious as I am for the next book to come out. Can’t wait!
I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine and in no way was I compensated.
Stars– 4.5, Flames – 3
February 2, 2015
This is my favorite of Rosalie's books. Ah, where to start?
In case you don't know the particulars of this series, it's written about the seven cardinal sins - who have been made flesh. The concept is wonderful and the universe she's created is fascinating. I'm never much one for comparisons, but if you need one, it might remind you a little of Neil Gaiman. Trust me, Rosalie has made this concept her very own.
"Sex, Sin and Scandal" is a very plotty book and that's my favorite kind! Some of the aspects of the plot I loved (without being spoilery) is that it felt very real. Never contrived. Action worked seamlessly with character motivations - a delicate balancing act that Rosalie accomplishes flawlessly. And I'm saving the best for last. You know those books in which you can see the ending coming from a hundred miles off? This tale has none of that. Fifteen pages from the end, I had no idea how it was going to end.
The story is told with great empathy for the characters. You definitely get inside their skin and live the tale with them. It is also told with a great deal of wit and I found myself laughing out loud several times - something that rarely happens with me when I read. The two leads are complex, funny, and immanently interesting. There is also a cast of other characters from her universe which are very charming and multilayered. I'm really looking forward to the next in the series.
In case you don't know the particulars of this series, it's written about the seven cardinal sins - who have been made flesh. The concept is wonderful and the universe she's created is fascinating. I'm never much one for comparisons, but if you need one, it might remind you a little of Neil Gaiman. Trust me, Rosalie has made this concept her very own.
"Sex, Sin and Scandal" is a very plotty book and that's my favorite kind! Some of the aspects of the plot I loved (without being spoilery) is that it felt very real. Never contrived. Action worked seamlessly with character motivations - a delicate balancing act that Rosalie accomplishes flawlessly. And I'm saving the best for last. You know those books in which you can see the ending coming from a hundred miles off? This tale has none of that. Fifteen pages from the end, I had no idea how it was going to end.
The story is told with great empathy for the characters. You definitely get inside their skin and live the tale with them. It is also told with a great deal of wit and I found myself laughing out loud several times - something that rarely happens with me when I read. The two leads are complex, funny, and immanently interesting. There is also a cast of other characters from her universe which are very charming and multilayered. I'm really looking forward to the next in the series.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews