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Sinners Trio #3
Sins of a Wicked Princess
In the scorching finale of Anna Randol's wickedly tempting Trio series, the Wraith takes on a mission—and a princess—he'll never forget…
Ian Maddox, aka the Wraith, is happy to leave his life as a spy— as soon as he discovers who's been trying to kill his friends. All clues lead him to the bedroom of an exiled princess. Yet Princess Juliana isn't the simpering royal he expects, and this irresistible beauty agrees to give him the information he seeks…for a price.
Princess Juliana has never cowered—not even as she fled her burning castle in the midst of a rebellion—so she won't tremble before the darkly charismatic man who appears in her bedchamber and holds a knife to her throat. Instead, she bargains with the infamous spy to help her retrieve sensitive documents and restore her kingdom. But Juliana quickly finds that Ian is no humble servant, and she never imagines that lessons in thievery will lead to schooling in seduction.
Ian Maddox, aka the Wraith, is happy to leave his life as a spy— as soon as he discovers who's been trying to kill his friends. All clues lead him to the bedroom of an exiled princess. Yet Princess Juliana isn't the simpering royal he expects, and this irresistible beauty agrees to give him the information he seeks…for a price.
Princess Juliana has never cowered—not even as she fled her burning castle in the midst of a rebellion—so she won't tremble before the darkly charismatic man who appears in her bedchamber and holds a knife to her throat. Instead, she bargains with the infamous spy to help her retrieve sensitive documents and restore her kingdom. But Juliana quickly finds that Ian is no humble servant, and she never imagines that lessons in thievery will lead to schooling in seduction.
373 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 29, 2013
11 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
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December 24, 2013
Sins Of A Wicked Princess is what I'd call a "point and stare" book. I don't know what to make of it because it's just so... so... well, let me give you the synopsis of this story and, hopefully, you will see what I mean.
Juliana Castanova is the princess of a country that is no longer a country. After Napoleon has been given the boot from the mess he had made in Europe, Lenoria is getting carved up and divided among Spain and France. As the eldest daughter, Princess Juliana is basically the ruler of her rag-tag followers and family members that have seek refuge in England, and she is a princess only in name, basically.
Ian Maddox, the Wraith, is a former spy. After the events in the previous two books in the author's Sins series, Ian suspects that Juliana is part of plan to kill him and his buddies. So he does what every spy would do - he charges into her bedroom, mauls her, and ends up telling her a few things that she really shouldn't know while going, "Oops, my bad!" It's a good thing that Ms Randol spent some time assuring me that Ian is really a spy and not, say, Johnny English, because it is so easy to think poorly of Ian's abilities due to his actions in this story.
Meanwhile, Juliana is, as I've said, a ruler in name only. The big decisions are made by her aunt or other assorted people around her, while she tries not to gulp for air like a befuddled goldfish too much. When she discovers that her ninny brother has put them all into a mess that requires spy-ninja intervention, she comes up with the most sensible plan ever... no, not hiring some secret spy ninjas to clean up her mess. That is for losers - independent feisty misses don't do that kind of nonsense.
No, she will get that spy ninja guy that manhandled her and thought her a Mata Hari to teach him ninja tricks, so that she can personally "retrieve" those incriminating documents that got them all into their current mess. She can't even dress herself without her maid's assistance and she stammers like someone is deep frying her tonsils every time she tries to come up with a lie, but honestly now, how hard can a little spy ninja trick be, right?
Meanwhile, things are rosy in this story. Juliana is supposedly important to her people, but she is only guarded by young men that get inebriated and useless too easily. These people can spend money on her dresses and what not, but who cares about making sure that she doesn't end up a dead princess, right? Meanwhile, our princess who has been through so much still wants to marry for love when it should be obvious to anyone that getting pawed by an old but powerful politician on the way down the aisle may be the best bet to restoring her kingdom like she claims to want to do so much. A lot about Juliana's "feisty" and "assertive" nature, that Ian claims to be the primary fuel the his rocket jet in his pants, comes off as nothing but half-hearted and even bratty assertions of a very silly and naïve young girl.
Ian isn't any better. He is supposed to be this tough and hardened guy that has done things that many people don't want to think about, but he behaves more like a hormonal teenage boy here. As a spy who knows how messy things can get on a political front if Juliana discovers the full extent of the behind-the-stage chess game that resulted in the carving up of her country like a pie, he sees no problems in enabling Juliana's delusions of being Britney Spears in her Toxic music video as long as he gets to paw her. And, come on, she's a princess, given asylum by the government. Won't they be thrilled to see him sticking his fingers down her cleavage? He is trying to get them not to terminate him and his fellow ex-spies, and I guess boinking a princess is just the way to do that.
Sins Of A Wicked Princess could have worked as a really ridiculous campy story. Indeed, this story has all the absurd hallmarks of a popcorn classic. Unfortunately, the author exhibited no self-aware humor that would have cued me to not take this story seriously. Ms Randol's approach is deadly sober, and her characters frequently praise one another for being so smart and capable and brave when all I see are two silly bumpkins that, in real life, would probably trip over their shoelaces and fall to death down a ravine the first time they try to leave the house. And the author wants me to believe that one of them is a hardened spy, oh dear. Juliana as a sheltered girl may be easier to accept if the author hadn't had Ian informing me constantly about how smart and strong that dingbat is.
At the end of the day, it's all about style. If the author had indicated in even one instance that she is going full speed ahead on the crazy and she doesn't care if nothing makes sense because she just wants everybody to have fun, then yes, I'd embrace the crazy and maybe even have a good time. Everything about this story suggests that I should take it seriously instead, and I just can't, not with that the absurdities in this story. There's a fatal disconnect between tone and story elements here.
Juliana Castanova is the princess of a country that is no longer a country. After Napoleon has been given the boot from the mess he had made in Europe, Lenoria is getting carved up and divided among Spain and France. As the eldest daughter, Princess Juliana is basically the ruler of her rag-tag followers and family members that have seek refuge in England, and she is a princess only in name, basically.
Ian Maddox, the Wraith, is a former spy. After the events in the previous two books in the author's Sins series, Ian suspects that Juliana is part of plan to kill him and his buddies. So he does what every spy would do - he charges into her bedroom, mauls her, and ends up telling her a few things that she really shouldn't know while going, "Oops, my bad!" It's a good thing that Ms Randol spent some time assuring me that Ian is really a spy and not, say, Johnny English, because it is so easy to think poorly of Ian's abilities due to his actions in this story.
Meanwhile, Juliana is, as I've said, a ruler in name only. The big decisions are made by her aunt or other assorted people around her, while she tries not to gulp for air like a befuddled goldfish too much. When she discovers that her ninny brother has put them all into a mess that requires spy-ninja intervention, she comes up with the most sensible plan ever... no, not hiring some secret spy ninjas to clean up her mess. That is for losers - independent feisty misses don't do that kind of nonsense.
No, she will get that spy ninja guy that manhandled her and thought her a Mata Hari to teach him ninja tricks, so that she can personally "retrieve" those incriminating documents that got them all into their current mess. She can't even dress herself without her maid's assistance and she stammers like someone is deep frying her tonsils every time she tries to come up with a lie, but honestly now, how hard can a little spy ninja trick be, right?
Meanwhile, things are rosy in this story. Juliana is supposedly important to her people, but she is only guarded by young men that get inebriated and useless too easily. These people can spend money on her dresses and what not, but who cares about making sure that she doesn't end up a dead princess, right? Meanwhile, our princess who has been through so much still wants to marry for love when it should be obvious to anyone that getting pawed by an old but powerful politician on the way down the aisle may be the best bet to restoring her kingdom like she claims to want to do so much. A lot about Juliana's "feisty" and "assertive" nature, that Ian claims to be the primary fuel the his rocket jet in his pants, comes off as nothing but half-hearted and even bratty assertions of a very silly and naïve young girl.
Ian isn't any better. He is supposed to be this tough and hardened guy that has done things that many people don't want to think about, but he behaves more like a hormonal teenage boy here. As a spy who knows how messy things can get on a political front if Juliana discovers the full extent of the behind-the-stage chess game that resulted in the carving up of her country like a pie, he sees no problems in enabling Juliana's delusions of being Britney Spears in her Toxic music video as long as he gets to paw her. And, come on, she's a princess, given asylum by the government. Won't they be thrilled to see him sticking his fingers down her cleavage? He is trying to get them not to terminate him and his fellow ex-spies, and I guess boinking a princess is just the way to do that.
Sins Of A Wicked Princess could have worked as a really ridiculous campy story. Indeed, this story has all the absurd hallmarks of a popcorn classic. Unfortunately, the author exhibited no self-aware humor that would have cued me to not take this story seriously. Ms Randol's approach is deadly sober, and her characters frequently praise one another for being so smart and capable and brave when all I see are two silly bumpkins that, in real life, would probably trip over their shoelaces and fall to death down a ravine the first time they try to leave the house. And the author wants me to believe that one of them is a hardened spy, oh dear. Juliana as a sheltered girl may be easier to accept if the author hadn't had Ian informing me constantly about how smart and strong that dingbat is.
At the end of the day, it's all about style. If the author had indicated in even one instance that she is going full speed ahead on the crazy and she doesn't care if nothing makes sense because she just wants everybody to have fun, then yes, I'd embrace the crazy and maybe even have a good time. Everything about this story suggests that I should take it seriously instead, and I just can't, not with that the absurdities in this story. There's a fatal disconnect between tone and story elements here.
January 31, 2014
I would have liked this a whole lot more if the author hadn't taken the "toss history out the window and make shit up" route. I had to sort of grit my teeth and pretend this was a fantasy novel at some points, a frustrating experience after how much I enjoyed the Russian setting of Sins of a Ruthless Rogue. So it says a lot about the characters, plot, and romance that I still gave this book four stars. Anna Randol is an excellent writer and has quickly skyrocketed to the top of my list of HR must-reads. She's still fairly obscure, and I don't understand why. I hope she has her breakout novel soon, because she is stellar and deserves a place among better-known HR authors like Tessa Dare and Joanna Bourne.
Thanks to Avon and Edelweiss for the advance copy.
Thanks to Avon and Edelweiss for the advance copy.
August 14, 2024
Review from 2014
B+ for narration / B for content
I’ve been waiting to read or listen to this story since I read Sins of a Ruthless Rogue (Book 2 in the Sinners Trio) last Spring. Ian Maddox, aka The Wraith, appeared as a secondary character in that story and immediately caught my attention with his snarky mouth and cocky attitude. I’m a sucker for a smart guy with an equally smart mouth and have been eagerly awaiting his story which is the final book in Anna Randol’s trilogy of stories of espionage and romance.
Ian Maddox is one of a group of crack British spies known as “the Trio”, all of whom had been rescued from the gallows in exchange for putting their exceptional skills to use for the Crown during the Napoleonic wars. Ian’s particular talents have to do with retrieval – if there’s something he wants, he gets it, no matter what he has to do. He’s quick and light on his feet and can find ways in and out of all manner of places without people even knowing he’s there. Blink – and you’ll miss him.
When I started listening to Sins of a Wicked Princess, I was delighted to meet Ian again. He’s just as I remembered him – super confident, irreverent, witty, sexy, and flirtatious, and new-to-me narrator Veronica Paulton’s performance definitely brought out those characteristics very well indeed.
At the beginning of the series, the war is over and the Trio is released from their service and disbanded. Ian is certainly not averse to getting his life back, but before he “retires” he wants to do one last thing – discover the identity of the traitor who ordered their deaths. His investigations lead him to suspect the betrayal came from someone in the London home of the exiled Princess Juliana of Lenoria, a small European kingdom which is the object of dispute by the Spanish and the French.
Not being one to beat about the bush, Ian sneaks into Juliana’s chamber one night and confronts her with his suspicions. She has no idea who he is or what he is talking about, and Ian, who can recognise the truth when he hears it, has to reluctantly accept her protestations of innocence.
Shortly after this, Juliana is apprised of a plot to depose her in favour of her younger brother, Gregory, who has allowed himself to be dazzled by the promises of an extremely powerful British peer. In finding out about this plan, Juliana also discovers that Gregory was the one who ordered the deaths of the Trio. She recognises that her brother does not wish her harm, but that he has been duped by the Duke of Sommet, who is now blackmailing him to ensure his continued cooperation.
Juliana can think of only one person who can help her retrieve these sensitive documents and asks Ian to teach her the skills she will need to steal them from Sommet. In return, she will tell him what she knows about the Duke’s involvement in the treason against her country and the order to kill him and his friends.
From here on in, the story twists and turns as the plot well and truly thickens at the same time as Ian and Juliana become more deeply attracted to one another. Their dialogues are laced with humour and Ian’s quintessential brand of innuendo and snark, and Juliana is more than up to his weight when it comes to matching him in their verbal sparring matches. Writing witty banter that consistently feels naturalistic is not an easy thing to do, but Ms. Randol makes it seem effortless and carries it off with aplomb.
While I did enjoy listening to Sins of a Wicked Princess, and will say that the multiple plot threads and twists were clearly well planned and executed, I did come away feeling a little disappointed when it came to the romance. Ian’s arrogance, insouciance and wit make him a very sexy hero, and Juliana’s innocence in her initial responses to him – which he can read like a book – made her rather endearing. There was plenty of sexual tension between them and the love scenes, while not explicit, were sensual and romantic; yet it seemed to me their feelings for each other at the end of the story were the same as at the beginning. That’s not to say I didn’t believe they felt deeply for one another – just that I didn’t get any real sense of their relationship maturing and developing.
I also had a couple of issues with the characterisation of both protagonists. Juliana is presented to us as being essential to the future of her country and to the continued survival of those Lenorians who had fled to England with her, yet she often comes across as ineffectual and rather in awe of her trio of aunts. And Ian is supposed to be a super-intelligent crack spy, yet his thoughts are almost entirely taken up with Juliana’s physical perfections and attributes, and how he can never have her because he’s a gutter rat and she’s a princess.
On the whole, however, those are minor niggles, because the story moves – for the most part – at a cracking pace and there’s little time to dwell on such issues if one is to keep up with the developments and complications which abound in the plot!
As far as I can determine, Veronica Paulion is new to the world of audiobook narration, and if that’s the case, she has acquitted herself here very well. Her voice is pleasantly mellow-toned, her pacing is good, her enunciation clear, and I was generally impressed by her acting choices. She made good use of pauses and I thought her acting choices gave both the dialogue and her narration a naturalistic feel. Ms. Paulion doesn’t utilise a much of a lower pitch to portray the male characters, but they were all suitably delineated and differentiated – from Juliana’s younger brother to Ian’s old retainer, Canterbury. She was especially successful in her interpretation of Ian – she had a very deft touch with the humour in the book and had his tongue-in-cheek arrogance down to a T, which made it the stand-out characterisation in this audio.
She was equally successful when performing the various female characters. Juliana’s three aunts all sounded perfectly distinct and her characterisation of Apple, the street urchin who becomes her maid, was very well done indeed.
All in all, Sins of a Wicked Princess was an enjoyable – though not outstanding – listen. Ian Maddox is far and away the star of the show and, while I may have been disappointed in some aspects of the story overall, he’s one of those characters who is so utterly compelling that one is able to forgive much simply because he’s such a charming rascal!
B+ for narration / B for content
I’ve been waiting to read or listen to this story since I read Sins of a Ruthless Rogue (Book 2 in the Sinners Trio) last Spring. Ian Maddox, aka The Wraith, appeared as a secondary character in that story and immediately caught my attention with his snarky mouth and cocky attitude. I’m a sucker for a smart guy with an equally smart mouth and have been eagerly awaiting his story which is the final book in Anna Randol’s trilogy of stories of espionage and romance.
Ian Maddox is one of a group of crack British spies known as “the Trio”, all of whom had been rescued from the gallows in exchange for putting their exceptional skills to use for the Crown during the Napoleonic wars. Ian’s particular talents have to do with retrieval – if there’s something he wants, he gets it, no matter what he has to do. He’s quick and light on his feet and can find ways in and out of all manner of places without people even knowing he’s there. Blink – and you’ll miss him.
When I started listening to Sins of a Wicked Princess, I was delighted to meet Ian again. He’s just as I remembered him – super confident, irreverent, witty, sexy, and flirtatious, and new-to-me narrator Veronica Paulton’s performance definitely brought out those characteristics very well indeed.
At the beginning of the series, the war is over and the Trio is released from their service and disbanded. Ian is certainly not averse to getting his life back, but before he “retires” he wants to do one last thing – discover the identity of the traitor who ordered their deaths. His investigations lead him to suspect the betrayal came from someone in the London home of the exiled Princess Juliana of Lenoria, a small European kingdom which is the object of dispute by the Spanish and the French.
Not being one to beat about the bush, Ian sneaks into Juliana’s chamber one night and confronts her with his suspicions. She has no idea who he is or what he is talking about, and Ian, who can recognise the truth when he hears it, has to reluctantly accept her protestations of innocence.
Shortly after this, Juliana is apprised of a plot to depose her in favour of her younger brother, Gregory, who has allowed himself to be dazzled by the promises of an extremely powerful British peer. In finding out about this plan, Juliana also discovers that Gregory was the one who ordered the deaths of the Trio. She recognises that her brother does not wish her harm, but that he has been duped by the Duke of Sommet, who is now blackmailing him to ensure his continued cooperation.
Juliana can think of only one person who can help her retrieve these sensitive documents and asks Ian to teach her the skills she will need to steal them from Sommet. In return, she will tell him what she knows about the Duke’s involvement in the treason against her country and the order to kill him and his friends.
From here on in, the story twists and turns as the plot well and truly thickens at the same time as Ian and Juliana become more deeply attracted to one another. Their dialogues are laced with humour and Ian’s quintessential brand of innuendo and snark, and Juliana is more than up to his weight when it comes to matching him in their verbal sparring matches. Writing witty banter that consistently feels naturalistic is not an easy thing to do, but Ms. Randol makes it seem effortless and carries it off with aplomb.
While I did enjoy listening to Sins of a Wicked Princess, and will say that the multiple plot threads and twists were clearly well planned and executed, I did come away feeling a little disappointed when it came to the romance. Ian’s arrogance, insouciance and wit make him a very sexy hero, and Juliana’s innocence in her initial responses to him – which he can read like a book – made her rather endearing. There was plenty of sexual tension between them and the love scenes, while not explicit, were sensual and romantic; yet it seemed to me their feelings for each other at the end of the story were the same as at the beginning. That’s not to say I didn’t believe they felt deeply for one another – just that I didn’t get any real sense of their relationship maturing and developing.
I also had a couple of issues with the characterisation of both protagonists. Juliana is presented to us as being essential to the future of her country and to the continued survival of those Lenorians who had fled to England with her, yet she often comes across as ineffectual and rather in awe of her trio of aunts. And Ian is supposed to be a super-intelligent crack spy, yet his thoughts are almost entirely taken up with Juliana’s physical perfections and attributes, and how he can never have her because he’s a gutter rat and she’s a princess.
On the whole, however, those are minor niggles, because the story moves – for the most part – at a cracking pace and there’s little time to dwell on such issues if one is to keep up with the developments and complications which abound in the plot!
As far as I can determine, Veronica Paulion is new to the world of audiobook narration, and if that’s the case, she has acquitted herself here very well. Her voice is pleasantly mellow-toned, her pacing is good, her enunciation clear, and I was generally impressed by her acting choices. She made good use of pauses and I thought her acting choices gave both the dialogue and her narration a naturalistic feel. Ms. Paulion doesn’t utilise a much of a lower pitch to portray the male characters, but they were all suitably delineated and differentiated – from Juliana’s younger brother to Ian’s old retainer, Canterbury. She was especially successful in her interpretation of Ian – she had a very deft touch with the humour in the book and had his tongue-in-cheek arrogance down to a T, which made it the stand-out characterisation in this audio.
She was equally successful when performing the various female characters. Juliana’s three aunts all sounded perfectly distinct and her characterisation of Apple, the street urchin who becomes her maid, was very well done indeed.
All in all, Sins of a Wicked Princess was an enjoyable – though not outstanding – listen. Ian Maddox is far and away the star of the show and, while I may have been disappointed in some aspects of the story overall, he’s one of those characters who is so utterly compelling that one is able to forgive much simply because he’s such a charming rascal!
March 5, 2024
*3.5 stars
September 9, 2013
Mmmmm forbidden romance between a Princess and an ex-spy born from the gutters? Yes please!
4.5/5
4.5/5
November 15, 2017
I READ THIS OVER THE SUMMER AND THIS SERIES WAS FABULOUS. The history alone, and then the smoldering romances. This one was my favorite of the trilogy, but all 3 were so well written. Fabulous.
January 2, 2018
I liked this book i will have to check the others in the series out.
August 17, 2019
Thank god the series is over.
May 17, 2021
I really enjoyed this. I thought Princess Julianna was feisty and Ian was a perfect love interest. Although it was pretty tame when the “romance” part of it was concerned, I still enjoyed the plot and the other supporting characters.
August 4, 2014
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Sins Of A Wicked Princess by Anna Randol
Book Three of the Sinners Trio series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
Ian Maddox, aka the Wraith, is happy to leave his life as a spy— as soon as he discovers who's been trying to kill his friends. All clues lead him to the bedroom of an exiled princess. Yet Princess Juliana isn't the simpering royal he expects, and this irresistible beauty agrees to give him the information he seeks…for a price.
Princess Juliana has never cowered—not even as she fled her burning castle in the midst of a rebellion—so she won't tremble before the darkly charismatic man who appears in her bedchamber and holds a knife to her throat. Instead, she bargains with the infamous spy to help her retrieve sensitive documents and restore her kingdom. But Juliana quickly finds that Ian is no humble servant, and she never imagines that lessons in thievery will lead to schooling in seduction.
What I Liked:
I don't know why the overall Goodreads rating of this book isn't higher. I LOVED this book. There were so, so many wonderful things about this book that I really just did NOT expect. Or maybe I've been starved of a fantastic historical romance novel for too long. But this book seemed perfect to me. The characters are lovable, the plot was dynamic and interesting, the chemistry was steamy but not over the top, and this book was genuinely FUNNY.
Julianna makes a deal with "Wraith" - Ian: help her learn to be as sneaky as a thief, and she'll give him information about the "Trio" that he is a part of. Julianna needs to steal letters from a duke in order to save her kingdom. Ian needs information from her - he needs to know about who wants him dead (most recently). Eventually, Julianna and Ian decide to work together to get the letters, and Ian is hired as her footman. The pair, as well as the rest of Julianna's court, travel to the culprit's home (for a ball), and there, Julianna and Ian will attempt to steal the letters, and save the kingdom.
I LOVE that there is an actual plot to this book! This book could completely stand alone as a historical fiction novel, and does not necessarily need the romance! Of course, the romance was AMAZING and I loved it, but I'm just saying - the plot of this book was intriguing and interesting, and I wanted to know more. I wanted to keep reading, to find out about the letters, the tricky duke, the lying family member...
The characters are completely lovable. Julianna is feisty and fearless, Ian is clever and witty and so good at what he does. The two of them make a very interesting pair, both with strong wills. HOWEVER, I love that Ian is not overly alpha and macho, like most historical romance male protagonists appear to be. Ian is more laid back and chill, and it's so appealing. Everything is a joke to him, but not actually. More like, he has something witty or funny to say about everything.
Which leads me to my next big point - this book is so FUNNY! It's hilarious! The author has the characters doing silly or hilarious things, and she also has them saying silly or hilarious things. I seriously could not get enough of Julianna and Ian's banter, but also the actions of the two of them. Love!
I found that in this book, the chemistry was not flaming hot or flying off the page. This was different, but I really liked this, because there wasn't a sex scene or almost sex scene after every chapter or so. In fact, the author had a very, very few amount of sex scenes in this book. Don't get me wrong, the chemistry is HOT. But the author finds subtler ways than straight-up intercourse to make this book steamy.
I really enjoyed this book, you all. It was just about perfect. The ending comes in a rush, but it was a super great ending. Everything comes together in the end. If you get confused about something while reading, keep reading, because everything makes sense at the end. Or at least, that's how it was for me. So great!
What I Did Not Like:
I really have nothing to say in this section. Perhaps a few anachronistic phrases every now and then, but honestly, I am so willing to look past them at this point.
Would I Recommend It:
I would HIGHLY recommend this book, to historical romance lovers especially. Keep in mind, I did NOT read the previous two books in this series. But you bet I want to now. This book knocked my socks off!
Rating:
5 stars. I can't believe I waited this long to read this book! Shame on me. I loved it so much!
Sins Of A Wicked Princess by Anna Randol
Book Three of the Sinners Trio series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: October 29, 2013
Rating: 5 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
Ian Maddox, aka the Wraith, is happy to leave his life as a spy— as soon as he discovers who's been trying to kill his friends. All clues lead him to the bedroom of an exiled princess. Yet Princess Juliana isn't the simpering royal he expects, and this irresistible beauty agrees to give him the information he seeks…for a price.
Princess Juliana has never cowered—not even as she fled her burning castle in the midst of a rebellion—so she won't tremble before the darkly charismatic man who appears in her bedchamber and holds a knife to her throat. Instead, she bargains with the infamous spy to help her retrieve sensitive documents and restore her kingdom. But Juliana quickly finds that Ian is no humble servant, and she never imagines that lessons in thievery will lead to schooling in seduction.
What I Liked:
I don't know why the overall Goodreads rating of this book isn't higher. I LOVED this book. There were so, so many wonderful things about this book that I really just did NOT expect. Or maybe I've been starved of a fantastic historical romance novel for too long. But this book seemed perfect to me. The characters are lovable, the plot was dynamic and interesting, the chemistry was steamy but not over the top, and this book was genuinely FUNNY.
Julianna makes a deal with "Wraith" - Ian: help her learn to be as sneaky as a thief, and she'll give him information about the "Trio" that he is a part of. Julianna needs to steal letters from a duke in order to save her kingdom. Ian needs information from her - he needs to know about who wants him dead (most recently). Eventually, Julianna and Ian decide to work together to get the letters, and Ian is hired as her footman. The pair, as well as the rest of Julianna's court, travel to the culprit's home (for a ball), and there, Julianna and Ian will attempt to steal the letters, and save the kingdom.
I LOVE that there is an actual plot to this book! This book could completely stand alone as a historical fiction novel, and does not necessarily need the romance! Of course, the romance was AMAZING and I loved it, but I'm just saying - the plot of this book was intriguing and interesting, and I wanted to know more. I wanted to keep reading, to find out about the letters, the tricky duke, the lying family member...
The characters are completely lovable. Julianna is feisty and fearless, Ian is clever and witty and so good at what he does. The two of them make a very interesting pair, both with strong wills. HOWEVER, I love that Ian is not overly alpha and macho, like most historical romance male protagonists appear to be. Ian is more laid back and chill, and it's so appealing. Everything is a joke to him, but not actually. More like, he has something witty or funny to say about everything.
Which leads me to my next big point - this book is so FUNNY! It's hilarious! The author has the characters doing silly or hilarious things, and she also has them saying silly or hilarious things. I seriously could not get enough of Julianna and Ian's banter, but also the actions of the two of them. Love!
I found that in this book, the chemistry was not flaming hot or flying off the page. This was different, but I really liked this, because there wasn't a sex scene or almost sex scene after every chapter or so. In fact, the author had a very, very few amount of sex scenes in this book. Don't get me wrong, the chemistry is HOT. But the author finds subtler ways than straight-up intercourse to make this book steamy.
I really enjoyed this book, you all. It was just about perfect. The ending comes in a rush, but it was a super great ending. Everything comes together in the end. If you get confused about something while reading, keep reading, because everything makes sense at the end. Or at least, that's how it was for me. So great!
What I Did Not Like:
I really have nothing to say in this section. Perhaps a few anachronistic phrases every now and then, but honestly, I am so willing to look past them at this point.
Would I Recommend It:
I would HIGHLY recommend this book, to historical romance lovers especially. Keep in mind, I did NOT read the previous two books in this series. But you bet I want to now. This book knocked my socks off!
Rating:
5 stars. I can't believe I waited this long to read this book! Shame on me. I loved it so much!
December 9, 2013
"Salagadoola mechicka boola bibbidi-bobbidi-boo."
I'm wishing, I'm wishing... I'm wishing. I'm looking, looking. Where is that book that is going to knock my socks off? Where is my next wow coming from? Which leads me to Sins of a Wicked Princess, the third in Anne Randol's Sinner's Trio series. I'm tired. When is that war with Napoleon ever going to be over and when can allllll those English spies return home? When can allll those Princesses from Lackaslavia ever unite their homeland again? And, when can all those peasants from Lackaslavia ever go back to their little cottages under the mountain? You know the cottages I mean, the ones on top of the iron ore that's being mined. Well, that's what we sort of have in this book, a princess who is fighting to have her homeland restored to her. Granted she hasn't been there in awhile, she doesn't even know if she has any people to rule...but by golly, she's going to give it the old college try. But first she must steal some papers from our nefarious villain and she does that with the help of Ian Maddox, aka the Wraith. Also along for the ride are numerous secondary characters: there is Apple, a street urchin; Gregory, Juliana's brother; Eustace; Leucretia; Constantina; her aunts; Canterbury, the valet/butler; Wilhelm, her maybe future husband (who by the way has a blind daughter back home); Abington, the drunken sidekick; and Sleepy, Dopey and Doc.
You know, I didn't necessarily dislike this book. In fact, there were some parts that I enjoyed. I liked both the heroine (even though she's a princess) and the hero (even though he's not worthy.) They were both strong characters and there was plenty of witty dialog between the two of them. Ian was charming right from the beginning and I had no problems liking him. Juliana, on the other hand, was a little harder to like. She has all of these grandiose plans for getting her country back that almost border on TSTL, but somehow worked in the end.
There were also some parts in this book that were slow and I had to force myself to continue through. It's not a good sign when I put the book down and do needlepoint. For me, there just seemed to be one too many plots going on and one too many people to keep track of. And, the three aunts were interchangeable; I kept having to check back to see which one was which.
I had one other quibble with this book. Ian and Juliana are instantly attracted to each other. In fact, Ian had an almost constant puffy Mr. Toad; I'm surprised he was able to maneuver through most of the story. He's out there scaling walls, picking locks, climbing out windows...all with this giant protrusion. Surprised he didn't trip over it. Anyway, he is captivated by our heroine, but as we all know, he isn't good enough. No, not he - he is the scum of the earth, the dirt beneath her fingernails, he is not worthy, not worthy. He must stay away from her, from the temptation, the distraction she presents. So, what is one of the first things he does? Why, he climbs into her room, takes his clothes off and precedes to take a bath in her water...right in front of her...while she watching his big old Mr. Toad flapped around. And, that was how he stayed away from her through most of the book. I thought it was rather silly that he kept saying he should avoid her one minute, then the next minute he's biting her ears.
Overall, I would have to say Ian and Juliana were not enough to save this story for me. It seemed to me that Sins of a Wicked Princess couldn't decide whether it was a romance or and adventure story. I lost interest in the adventure part of the story half way through the book and the romance wasn't strong enough to make it work for me as a romance. I found the solutions to their many problems to be a suspend-your-disbelief time. While I liked the secondary characters of Apple and Abington, the others were all flat. So, what started out as promising, ended by disappointing me.
KaysBlog
I'm wishing, I'm wishing... I'm wishing. I'm looking, looking. Where is that book that is going to knock my socks off? Where is my next wow coming from? Which leads me to Sins of a Wicked Princess, the third in Anne Randol's Sinner's Trio series. I'm tired. When is that war with Napoleon ever going to be over and when can allllll those English spies return home? When can allll those Princesses from Lackaslavia ever unite their homeland again? And, when can all those peasants from Lackaslavia ever go back to their little cottages under the mountain? You know the cottages I mean, the ones on top of the iron ore that's being mined. Well, that's what we sort of have in this book, a princess who is fighting to have her homeland restored to her. Granted she hasn't been there in awhile, she doesn't even know if she has any people to rule...but by golly, she's going to give it the old college try. But first she must steal some papers from our nefarious villain and she does that with the help of Ian Maddox, aka the Wraith. Also along for the ride are numerous secondary characters: there is Apple, a street urchin; Gregory, Juliana's brother; Eustace; Leucretia; Constantina; her aunts; Canterbury, the valet/butler; Wilhelm, her maybe future husband (who by the way has a blind daughter back home); Abington, the drunken sidekick; and Sleepy, Dopey and Doc.
You know, I didn't necessarily dislike this book. In fact, there were some parts that I enjoyed. I liked both the heroine (even though she's a princess) and the hero (even though he's not worthy.) They were both strong characters and there was plenty of witty dialog between the two of them. Ian was charming right from the beginning and I had no problems liking him. Juliana, on the other hand, was a little harder to like. She has all of these grandiose plans for getting her country back that almost border on TSTL, but somehow worked in the end.
There were also some parts in this book that were slow and I had to force myself to continue through. It's not a good sign when I put the book down and do needlepoint. For me, there just seemed to be one too many plots going on and one too many people to keep track of. And, the three aunts were interchangeable; I kept having to check back to see which one was which.
I had one other quibble with this book. Ian and Juliana are instantly attracted to each other. In fact, Ian had an almost constant puffy Mr. Toad; I'm surprised he was able to maneuver through most of the story. He's out there scaling walls, picking locks, climbing out windows...all with this giant protrusion. Surprised he didn't trip over it. Anyway, he is captivated by our heroine, but as we all know, he isn't good enough. No, not he - he is the scum of the earth, the dirt beneath her fingernails, he is not worthy, not worthy. He must stay away from her, from the temptation, the distraction she presents. So, what is one of the first things he does? Why, he climbs into her room, takes his clothes off and precedes to take a bath in her water...right in front of her...while she watching his big old Mr. Toad flapped around. And, that was how he stayed away from her through most of the book. I thought it was rather silly that he kept saying he should avoid her one minute, then the next minute he's biting her ears.
Overall, I would have to say Ian and Juliana were not enough to save this story for me. It seemed to me that Sins of a Wicked Princess couldn't decide whether it was a romance or and adventure story. I lost interest in the adventure part of the story half way through the book and the romance wasn't strong enough to make it work for me as a romance. I found the solutions to their many problems to be a suspend-your-disbelief time. While I liked the secondary characters of Apple and Abington, the others were all flat. So, what started out as promising, ended by disappointing me.
KaysBlog
October 26, 2013
Review published at Ex Libris
Sins of a Wicked Princess is the third and last book in the Sinners Trio series by Anna Randol which follows the adventures of three spies while they try to find their Happily Ever After. Considering how much I loved the second book in the series, Sins of a Ruthless Rogue, I had pretty high expectations from this book. And I'm happy to say that Anna Randol managed to deliver once more a story full of adventure, heartfelt emotion, and great characters that I couldn't possibly put down.
Before anything else, I have to note that the ARC I received for review was full of typos and mistakes something I seriously hope that will be fixed in the final copy. As a result the story wasn't smoothly flowing but that is something easily fixed. That being said, Sins of a Wicked Princess was an incredible book! I loved everything about it and mostly the leading couple. Both Ian and Juliana are characters that manage to stay with you long after you've finished reading their story, they are characters you can easily relate to and care for, thus making their story all the more a joy to read. Juliana is exactly the kind of heroine I like in my books. Not to mention that she's a princess! Yeah, I have a thing for princesses :P And Juliana is one of those princesses who care first of all for her people and then for themselves. She's ready to sacrifice herself or her personal happiness in order to secure a better future for her people. How many of our current political leaders can claim that? But the fact that she's responsible for a country doesn't stop her from being a very real woman with needs and insecurities and a wicked sense of humour!
Ian on the other hand is simply delicious. I don't have a thing for princesses alone. I have also a thing for spies and tortured heroes as well. And Ian is the perfect combination of genius, arrogance and sexiness. Honestly, I don't think Juliana could have a better man by her side, even if she tried :P Together they make the perfect couple. Their chemistry is really good and the reader cares for them and wants them to find their HEA.
As far as the plot is concerned, there's enough mystery to keep you turning the pages and betrayals to spice things up a bit. The writing style is really good and in overall, there wasn't a single moment where I felt bored or tired while reading Sins of a Wicked Princess. On the contrary. I stayed up late at night just to read a few more chapters :)
Verdict: Sins of a Wicked Princess is one of those books I really enjoyed reading. It combines mystery, intrigue and a good dose of romance and humour that I always appreciate in a book. And here I just have to note that this story manages to be sexy even if the sex scenes are limited. And that is another area where Anna Randol won me over. It's not the quantity of sex scenes that make a story sexy but the quality. A must read!
Sins of a Wicked Princess is the third and last book in the Sinners Trio series by Anna Randol which follows the adventures of three spies while they try to find their Happily Ever After. Considering how much I loved the second book in the series, Sins of a Ruthless Rogue, I had pretty high expectations from this book. And I'm happy to say that Anna Randol managed to deliver once more a story full of adventure, heartfelt emotion, and great characters that I couldn't possibly put down.
Before anything else, I have to note that the ARC I received for review was full of typos and mistakes something I seriously hope that will be fixed in the final copy. As a result the story wasn't smoothly flowing but that is something easily fixed. That being said, Sins of a Wicked Princess was an incredible book! I loved everything about it and mostly the leading couple. Both Ian and Juliana are characters that manage to stay with you long after you've finished reading their story, they are characters you can easily relate to and care for, thus making their story all the more a joy to read. Juliana is exactly the kind of heroine I like in my books. Not to mention that she's a princess! Yeah, I have a thing for princesses :P And Juliana is one of those princesses who care first of all for her people and then for themselves. She's ready to sacrifice herself or her personal happiness in order to secure a better future for her people. How many of our current political leaders can claim that? But the fact that she's responsible for a country doesn't stop her from being a very real woman with needs and insecurities and a wicked sense of humour!
Ian on the other hand is simply delicious. I don't have a thing for princesses alone. I have also a thing for spies and tortured heroes as well. And Ian is the perfect combination of genius, arrogance and sexiness. Honestly, I don't think Juliana could have a better man by her side, even if she tried :P Together they make the perfect couple. Their chemistry is really good and the reader cares for them and wants them to find their HEA.
As far as the plot is concerned, there's enough mystery to keep you turning the pages and betrayals to spice things up a bit. The writing style is really good and in overall, there wasn't a single moment where I felt bored or tired while reading Sins of a Wicked Princess. On the contrary. I stayed up late at night just to read a few more chapters :)
Verdict: Sins of a Wicked Princess is one of those books I really enjoyed reading. It combines mystery, intrigue and a good dose of romance and humour that I always appreciate in a book. And here I just have to note that this story manages to be sexy even if the sex scenes are limited. And that is another area where Anna Randol won me over. It's not the quantity of sex scenes that make a story sexy but the quality. A must read!
November 7, 2013
*Pouts* It's over, it's really over.. After the first book in the Sinners Trio, Sins of a Virgin by Anna Randol shocked me, I put my reservations aside and found this book to be awesome. I happily awaited for the second book to be released and loved Sins of a Wicked Rogue to be intriguing. Now at last third book is out and Sins of a Wicked Princess is another winner.
Ian Maddox, or Wraith as he is known by those who know of the Trio of spies that used to work for the British government. Each of the three spies were recruited from the gallows and given the choice to live if they gave their lives in service to the crown. The government has now disavowed knowledge of the Trio and now they are on their own. Clayton and Madeline are now happily married and living productive lives but Ian is still uncertain of his fate. Frankly, he is quite content to leave the life of being a spy, but first he must discover who is behind a hit list on his former associates.
Princess Juliana is a semi-exiled ruler of a small country that is sought after by the French and the Spanish. When Wraith appears one night in her bedroom demanding to know who wants his friends killed, Juliana has no idea what he is talking about. Somehow the Trio has something to do with the toppling of Juliana's country. She soon finds that there is another plot to depose her of her throne and her brother may be at the center of the plot along with an unscrupulous and immoral Duke. In addition, the sparks between Ian and Juliana fly as soon as they meet. Juliana knows she must do her duty to her country and marry someone of her ilk, and Ian believes he is not for her, but at every turn there is heat between them.
Once the lines are drawn, Ian and Juliana team up to each solve their own dilemmas. Once in the evil Duke's domain both parties have to fight to stay alive and seek or deny their attraction at the same time. This tale of foreign intrigue is bereft with danger and deception, even from Juliana's own family. Once Ian's secret of what happened to Juliana's family during the fall of her country comes out, will Juliana become the cold and proper princess she has been rumored to be, or will she look beyond the duty he thought he had to do and see the man Ian truly is?
Anna Randol has done is again and I am very sorry to see the end of the Sinners Trio. Anna's knack for danger and suspense make this not just a romance but a wonderful mystery as well. Ian's snarky mouth and Juliana's not so proper princess who can pick locks, are fabulous characters. I loved how both of these characters at first thought they had to part ways, but then with the realization they couldn't be happy unless they were together, they both fought for what they truly wanted. In the end the spy and the princess overcome their social differences, making The Sins of a Wicked Princess a must read.
~KIMBERLY~
March 21, 2015
Apparently Sins of a Wicked Princess is the third book in the trilogy (that I didn't realize was a trilogy - even though I loved the first book). With series, especially ones that switch off main characters, I have a hard time remembering what happened (especially if there is a continuing plot - particularly if I don't read the books in order close together). So I went into it treating it more as a standalone and it worked out fine, I enjoyed it.
There is political machinations, betrayal, manipulations and traitors galore but there is also romance and growing and a princess who learns to stand on her own. I thought the writing while a little fast paced was smooth and enjoyable, granted because of the fast pace we didn't see as much character development and backstory as I wanted, but this may be more personal preference. I loved Juliana and Ian, they were wonderful leads and I enjoyed watching their romance develop - I also enjoyed Apple and Canterbury.
Juliana did a lot of growing, some of her choices were a little bit iffy but I got why she did what she did (well, mostly). She started off the book as a figurehead really, but I think she began to grow into her role both as a Princess/Would-be-Queen and as a person, and by the end of the book was really coming into her own (if not fully there). I kind of wanted to see what happened after (when they got Lenoria back, the people, marriage, etc.), I'd like to think they did. Ian was awesome, I did in fact remember him from the first book - and I liked him then too. He introduced a whole new world and perspective to Juliana, but I think he also learned a few things from her as well. I enjoyed watching him interact not only with Juliana, but Apple and Canterbury too. Ian and Juliana's pasts are actually intertwined as is revealed in the book, and I liked how it was dealt with when it came out. I just really enjoyed the two of them together.
I do wish the bad guys, well one in particular suffered a bit more, but I'm a little bloodthirsty like that - there were a few times I wanted to pop him one in the nose or smash him with a fire poker - and I sort of wanted Juliana to be the one to take him down, but at least the bad guy was taken down. I also wish we had more of a wrap up regarding what happened with Lenoria and it's people but it wasn't a huge issue.
Overall, I enjoyed Sins of a Wicked Princess and look forward to reading more from Ms. Randol.
There is political machinations, betrayal, manipulations and traitors galore but there is also romance and growing and a princess who learns to stand on her own. I thought the writing while a little fast paced was smooth and enjoyable, granted because of the fast pace we didn't see as much character development and backstory as I wanted, but this may be more personal preference. I loved Juliana and Ian, they were wonderful leads and I enjoyed watching their romance develop - I also enjoyed Apple and Canterbury.
Juliana did a lot of growing, some of her choices were a little bit iffy but I got why she did what she did (well, mostly). She started off the book as a figurehead really, but I think she began to grow into her role both as a Princess/Would-be-Queen and as a person, and by the end of the book was really coming into her own (if not fully there). I kind of wanted to see what happened after (when they got Lenoria back, the people, marriage, etc.), I'd like to think they did. Ian was awesome, I did in fact remember him from the first book - and I liked him then too. He introduced a whole new world and perspective to Juliana, but I think he also learned a few things from her as well. I enjoyed watching him interact not only with Juliana, but Apple and Canterbury too. Ian and Juliana's pasts are actually intertwined as is revealed in the book, and I liked how it was dealt with when it came out. I just really enjoyed the two of them together.
I do wish the bad guys, well one in particular suffered a bit more, but I'm a little bloodthirsty like that - there were a few times I wanted to pop him one in the nose or smash him with a fire poker - and I sort of wanted Juliana to be the one to take him down, but at least the bad guy was taken down. I also wish we had more of a wrap up regarding what happened with Lenoria and it's people but it wasn't a huge issue.
Overall, I enjoyed Sins of a Wicked Princess and look forward to reading more from Ms. Randol.
October 31, 2013
I’ll admit to being pretty dang excited to read Ian’s book. If you’ve read the other two books in the Sinners trio, you’ll remember Ian, that silver-tongued, handsome devil who’s always ready with an irreverent quip. And I think, for the most part, this book lived up to my expectations. I wasn’t sure if it would at first, because the first half of the book didn’t quite grab me all the way. I mean, it was well written and often humorous, but it felt a little slow and I found myself getting easily distracted by little things that bugged me.
BUT, the second half really picked up. As soon as Juliana and Ian show up at Sommet’s house party, I was hooked. Because the truth was never what I—or the characters—was expecting, and every time I thought I had things figured out, Anna Randol hit me with a plot twist I didn’t see coming. And I love it when that happens.
As for the characters, Ian I obviously adored. Who wouldn’t? Juliana I didn’t click with quite as much, though it’s not that I disliked her or anything. I think it just rubbed me the wrong way a bit that she was so naïvely sure of herself and thought her skills and plans were equal to someone’s who’s been a spy for the majority of his life. Of course, she ends up being right about that and saves Ian’s butt, but it still had me wanting to talk some sense into her once it a while. Canterbury, the ostentatiously dress butler, was back and as awesome as ever, and I particularly enjoyed Apple, Juliana’s new lady’s maid. That girl has spunk and stole every scene she was in. Juliana’s three aunts, on the other hand, felt interchangeable for most of the book, and I’m still not sure why there need to be three of them—two would’ve been sufficient, in my opinion.
Overall, I had a good time with this book and, as always, enjoyed Anna Randol’s writing style. But I don’t think I’d say this is my favorite of the three books. It’s definitely fun though, and I appreciated how deftly the plot twists were handled. And as usual, this newest of Randol’s books left me excited to see what she’ll write next.
BUT, the second half really picked up. As soon as Juliana and Ian show up at Sommet’s house party, I was hooked. Because the truth was never what I—or the characters—was expecting, and every time I thought I had things figured out, Anna Randol hit me with a plot twist I didn’t see coming. And I love it when that happens.
As for the characters, Ian I obviously adored. Who wouldn’t? Juliana I didn’t click with quite as much, though it’s not that I disliked her or anything. I think it just rubbed me the wrong way a bit that she was so naïvely sure of herself and thought her skills and plans were equal to someone’s who’s been a spy for the majority of his life. Of course, she ends up being right about that and saves Ian’s butt, but it still had me wanting to talk some sense into her once it a while. Canterbury, the ostentatiously dress butler, was back and as awesome as ever, and I particularly enjoyed Apple, Juliana’s new lady’s maid. That girl has spunk and stole every scene she was in. Juliana’s three aunts, on the other hand, felt interchangeable for most of the book, and I’m still not sure why there need to be three of them—two would’ve been sufficient, in my opinion.
Overall, I had a good time with this book and, as always, enjoyed Anna Randol’s writing style. But I don’t think I’d say this is my favorite of the three books. It’s definitely fun though, and I appreciated how deftly the plot twists were handled. And as usual, this newest of Randol’s books left me excited to see what she’ll write next.
December 31, 2013
I fell in love with Ian ‘Wraith’ Maddox back in book one of the Sinners Trio, SINS OF THE VIRGIN, and had such high hopes for his story. Whereas, the story is wonderful, the mission adventurous and dangerous, and the falling in love romance delightful, I truly expected something a bit more dramatic from Wraith. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed SINS OF A WICKED PRINCESS by Anna Randol. She has once more created a cast of characters that will delight, entertain, and keep us on the edge of our seats as they make their way through the maze of questions, mysteries, and whodunits that Anna so skillfully concocts.
SINS OF A WICKED PRINCESS is exciting, filled with intrigue, dangerous explorations, devious plans, betrayal, and flirtations with definite steam factor. Ian is a hero that you want to have rescue you from the bad guys even as he sweeps you off your feet with his dramatic escapades. Juliana is smart, inquisitive, and a wonderful heroine who doesn’t back away from excitement, and danger but throws herself forward with enthusiasm. An eager enthusiasm that wins the heart of the most nefarious spy, thief, and all out sexy hero. Secondary characters are a delight and keep us enthralled, especially Eustace and Canterbury, and Apple is an absolute sweetheart.
I definitely recommend reading SINS OF A WICKED PRINCESS by Anna Randol if you’ve read Madeline and Clayton’s stories but I highly recommend reading it because it’s worth it. If you haven’t experienced the Sinners Trio by Anna Randol then by all means, do. Start from the beginning though, because they are that good. I only had one complaint - it’s been the same complaint throughout – too many editing errors. It’s very distracting. Read it though – it’s an amazing series.
***Purchased a copy for my own reading because I didn't want to miss it.
SINS OF A WICKED PRINCESS is exciting, filled with intrigue, dangerous explorations, devious plans, betrayal, and flirtations with definite steam factor. Ian is a hero that you want to have rescue you from the bad guys even as he sweeps you off your feet with his dramatic escapades. Juliana is smart, inquisitive, and a wonderful heroine who doesn’t back away from excitement, and danger but throws herself forward with enthusiasm. An eager enthusiasm that wins the heart of the most nefarious spy, thief, and all out sexy hero. Secondary characters are a delight and keep us enthralled, especially Eustace and Canterbury, and Apple is an absolute sweetheart.
I definitely recommend reading SINS OF A WICKED PRINCESS by Anna Randol if you’ve read Madeline and Clayton’s stories but I highly recommend reading it because it’s worth it. If you haven’t experienced the Sinners Trio by Anna Randol then by all means, do. Start from the beginning though, because they are that good. I only had one complaint - it’s been the same complaint throughout – too many editing errors. It’s very distracting. Read it though – it’s an amazing series.
***Purchased a copy for my own reading because I didn't want to miss it.
November 30, 2015
After picking up this book from a department store for $5 i didn't have any expectations for it before i started reading. I'm glad i didn't as i was surprised as to how much i enjoyed it. It's a fun quick read and the characters were so well fleshed out and portrayed.
Ian Maddox, a former spy, has found out that someone wants his friends who are also spies, with families, dead. Being the most notorious of the group called the Trio, he sets out to find who wants them dead. But by doing so his information leads to him meeting the heroine. Princess Juliana of Lenoria was the perfect match for a man with a dark and hard past, and as a character herself shew as believable and strong willed, no mary sue or annoying heroine. She is trying to get her country back after being torn apart bu both Spain and France and after meeting with Ian, discovers a plot that will affect her title as Queen if she doesn't act soon.
Ian was an amazing hero, his charm and quick wit made him one of my favourite male characters. He has a dark past who has molded him into the man he has become, but he is also emotive and always thinks about his actions and doings when we get to see his thoughts. He also had me laughing at some points. out loud. score
Juliana is also a favourite of my heroines. She is so strong willed and always has the state of her country and its citizens at the forefront of her mind, but at the same time still acknowledges what she wants. She is smart and the perfect match for a man who grew up with a hard life. She mellows Ian out and brings out his softer side.
Overall this was an amazing read, and you cheer for the characters to get their bad guy (who you will hate. Immensely), and fall for the side characters as they have so much impact in this book.
5 stars!
Ian Maddox, a former spy, has found out that someone wants his friends who are also spies, with families, dead. Being the most notorious of the group called the Trio, he sets out to find who wants them dead. But by doing so his information leads to him meeting the heroine. Princess Juliana of Lenoria was the perfect match for a man with a dark and hard past, and as a character herself shew as believable and strong willed, no mary sue or annoying heroine. She is trying to get her country back after being torn apart bu both Spain and France and after meeting with Ian, discovers a plot that will affect her title as Queen if she doesn't act soon.
Ian was an amazing hero, his charm and quick wit made him one of my favourite male characters. He has a dark past who has molded him into the man he has become, but he is also emotive and always thinks about his actions and doings when we get to see his thoughts. He also had me laughing at some points. out loud. score
Juliana is also a favourite of my heroines. She is so strong willed and always has the state of her country and its citizens at the forefront of her mind, but at the same time still acknowledges what she wants. She is smart and the perfect match for a man who grew up with a hard life. She mellows Ian out and brings out his softer side.
Overall this was an amazing read, and you cheer for the characters to get their bad guy (who you will hate. Immensely), and fall for the side characters as they have so much impact in this book.
5 stars!
October 14, 2013
THE SINS OF A WICKED PRINCESS by Anna Randol is an exciting Regency Historical Romance. #3 in the "Sinner's Trio" trilogy and the conclusion of this fast paced, adventure filled story and what a conclusion! Can a Princess of a long forgotten Kingdom find her Prince Charming in a charming but dangerous spy? You must read "The Sins of a Wicked Princess" to find out for yourself rather fairy tales do really come true. Join Princess Juliana, the heir to a Kingdom,which is in danger and Ian Maddox, aka the Wraith,who has left his spying days behind him,at least,until he learns who betrayed his team and his trying to kill him and his friends. Filled with lies, mystery,suspense,secrets, betrayal, treachery, treason, passion and the greatest gift of all, love. The passion fairly sizzles off the page between Juliana and Ian! Princess Juliana finds the greatest challenge of all,is her master spy, Ian. For you see Ian,(Wraith) is out to destroy the one who attempted to kill him and his friends....her younger brother,oh, but he has meet his match with Princess Juliana. Juliana's brother has been manipulated by a traitor in more ways than one. A powerful story on the powers to be and the lies,and deceit that follows when the greedy gets greedier on the backs of the poor and defenseless or so it would same. Ms. Randol is a masterful storyteller. One who draws her reader into the story and holds them spellbound. I love her stories and "The Sins of a Wicked Princess" was a true prince of a story. For a pauper may just become a prince after all!! Well done!! Received for an honest review from the publisher and Edelweiss.
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: MILD
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: MILD
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
March 30, 2016
This is the end of Anne Randol’s Sinner’s Trio trilogy and plot wise, was more confusing than the other two. This is Ian/Wraith’s story
I tried liking both the heroine and the hero but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t care much for either. Well, maybe I did a bit more for the hero. He was more developed than the heroine, and less confusing. But not by much.
Here is where I think this whole thing went wrong. When an author builds a ‘country’ that does not exist, it better be damn good and believable to the reader, otherwise it becomes a caricature and along with it, the characters turn into one as well.
Another issue I had with this story was its pace. Seriously, at one point I drew a blank and I just wanted the book to end.
This series in my opinion should have been under the adventure genre with romantic elements. All three books are chock full of adventure and intrigue, pushing romance to the background, and overall, it wasn’t bad, but something went wrong somewhere because it didn’t make me care as much as I wanted to.
In the end, if you’ve read the other two, then by all means do read this one too, but be warned. It will be a slow going.
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
I tried liking both the heroine and the hero but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t care much for either. Well, maybe I did a bit more for the hero. He was more developed than the heroine, and less confusing. But not by much.
Here is where I think this whole thing went wrong. When an author builds a ‘country’ that does not exist, it better be damn good and believable to the reader, otherwise it becomes a caricature and along with it, the characters turn into one as well.
Another issue I had with this story was its pace. Seriously, at one point I drew a blank and I just wanted the book to end.
This series in my opinion should have been under the adventure genre with romantic elements. All three books are chock full of adventure and intrigue, pushing romance to the background, and overall, it wasn’t bad, but something went wrong somewhere because it didn’t make me care as much as I wanted to.
In the end, if you’ve read the other two, then by all means do read this one too, but be warned. It will be a slow going.
Melanie for b2b
Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
November 4, 2013
I have been looking forward to Ian's story since the first book. He was the most interesting of the trio to me. We saw glimpses of him, but never got to know him - which of course made me want to know him even more!
Honestly, I didn't know what to expect with his past and it certainly wasn't the story that was told!
Julianna was Ian's perfect match. I can't imagine a better heroine for him. She was smart, sassy, loyal and adventurous. Together they were sensational!
I found the plot to be original and there were so many twists and turns, I was constantly wondering how they were going to be able to be together in the end.
My only complaint would be that we barely heard about the other members if the trio and there was no epilogue - I wanted more!
I hope there is a book for the Duke of Abington - there is a man who has a story that is begging to be told!
Honestly, I didn't know what to expect with his past and it certainly wasn't the story that was told!
Julianna was Ian's perfect match. I can't imagine a better heroine for him. She was smart, sassy, loyal and adventurous. Together they were sensational!
I found the plot to be original and there were so many twists and turns, I was constantly wondering how they were going to be able to be together in the end.
My only complaint would be that we barely heard about the other members if the trio and there was no epilogue - I wanted more!
I hope there is a book for the Duke of Abington - there is a man who has a story that is begging to be told!
September 13, 2016
I really enjoyed this story. The hero and heroine both very likable, smart, and strong characters. There was a lot of dialogue throughout the whole book which was great! I love a lot of dialogue in books. The sex was minimal but it was there. The secondary characters were great too.
I listened to this book via audible as I read along and I sure wish audible had the first 2 books in this series available. I don't normally read the 3 book of series but this was very good. I will be looking for the first 2 books and hope they become available on audible.
Book 1: Sins of a Virgin
Book 2: Sins of a Ruthless Rogue
Book 3: Sins of a Wicked Princess
I thought the narrator Veronica Paulion did a very good job and I enjoyed her narration very much.
I listened to this book via audible as I read along and I sure wish audible had the first 2 books in this series available. I don't normally read the 3 book of series but this was very good. I will be looking for the first 2 books and hope they become available on audible.
Book 1: Sins of a Virgin
Book 2: Sins of a Ruthless Rogue
Book 3: Sins of a Wicked Princess
I thought the narrator Veronica Paulion did a very good job and I enjoyed her narration very much.
November 24, 2013
A predictable read but enjoyed reading it.
Follow me!
Follow me!
January 3, 2014
Ian Maddox, Wraith, is investigating who set he and his two fellow spies (the Trio) up. Turns out the royal household of Princess Juliana is the likely source. He shows up in her bedroom one night but (suspend belief) he enlists her help. From then on, he teaches her self, defense, some elementary spycraft, and falls in love. She is also using him to find some letters incriminating her brother. This is palace intrigue, with a few spy encounters thrown in Enjoyable finale to series.
February 19, 2014
I did like this book. I was anxious to read Ian's story, because a)I enjoyed the other two in this series very much, and b)he was so and kick ass. Unfortunately, this book was a little disappointing. He showed himself to be a little too vulnerable and self-doubting in my opinion. I felt it was almost a rush to finish up the trilogy and solve the mystery that began in book one. I will not give up on Anna Randol, though.
December 28, 2014
I loved Juliana - she worked hard and cared about people and stood up for herself and did not want others taking care of things for her, even when she should have asked for help. And she had such an impact on Ian, which I think in the end makes him such a better man. He's willing to change and grow and considers information given to him, even if it may alter the light he sees himself in or the way others see him. My favorite of the trio.
April 28, 2015
I loved the first book in this trilogy, but the final two books (including this one) have totally not worked for me. Thin characterizations, a master spy hero who makes some pretty inept decisions and a heroine who isn't bothered at all that the hero is directly responsible for the death of her beloved parents. I did like a couple of the secondary characters and the dialogue is fun in parts - but that was all there was for me.
August 12, 2013
Finally Wraith's story!! Fantastic, brilliant, and so much fun to read. The story was full of twists and sub-plots that kept me hooked till the end. Juliana was such a fun and quirky character, a princess yet so much more than just a title. Ian, of course, was drool worthy! There were secondary characters also whose stories I cannot wait for. Anna Randol isa must read author for me.
September 30, 2015
***4.75***
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