Sinfully Yours

The Five Deadly Sins #4

by Kathleen Ayers

Kidnapping should be a Deadly Sin…especially if you lose your heart.

Malcolm Sinclair, former soldier, and mercenary has once more run afoul of the authorities. He needs a quick escape back to London which Lord Buckmore is only too happy to provide, if only Malcolm will perform a small task. Kidnap the young lady Buckmore wishes to wed from her overzealous, overprotective cousin.

Seems simple enough.

Miss Alyss Brooks is known for her scathing tongue, her ability to wield a parasol most proficiently, and her absolute dislike of her cousin’s suitor, Lord Buckmore. When Alyss is mistaken for her cousin, she sees an opportunity to confront the vile young lord once and for all.

Instead of vengeance, Alyss finds herself stranded far from London with no way home. A thunderstorm makes matters worse. She’s robbed. Worst of all, the only man willing to offer any assistance is her kidnapper, Sinclair.

Can Alyss risk spending the night trapped with her handsome abductor? How can she not?

Sinfully Yours is book 4 in the bestselling series, The Five Deadly Sins from Kathleen Ayers.

This series is part of Dragonblade's Flame line, so this is a scorching-hot read with open-door steam.

Read free in Kindle Unlimited!

The Five Deadly Sins
Sinfully Wed
Sinfully Tempted
Sinfully Mine
Sinfully Yours
Sinfully Wanton

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Forced Proximity, Fiction, Regency, Enemies To Lovers

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 22, 2024

About the author

Kathleen Ayers has been a hopeful romantic since the tender age of fourteen when she first purchased a copy of Sweet Savage Love at a garage sale while her mother was looking at antique animal planters. Since then she’s read hundreds of historical romances and fallen in love dozens of times. In particular she adores handsome, slightly damaged men with a wicked sense of humor. On paper, of course.

Kathleen lives in Houston and is married with one college aged son and two very spoiled dogs.

Reviews

[Missy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t mind insta-lust but this time I did. Every other thought when they were together in the carriage and cottage was how good it would feel to be in each other’s arms. It got irritating after a while.

Major spoilers: They have sex. They go their separate ways. They meet again in the park where he fingers her up against a tree. She discovers that she’s pregnant and decides to marry someone she dislikes rather than have the hero marry her out of honor. The hero intentionally kidnaps her this time so they can marry. They meet each other no more than five times before they “fell in love” and married.

About half the book was the day and night of the heroine’s accidental kidnapping, so I feel like some chapters were filler. Oh, man, was the heroine stubborn, prideful, and feel the need to be right all the time.

Oh, yeah! The hero was accused of murder in Venice (?) but that was never resolved. So what was the point?

The heroine’s cousin started out as this innocent girl who believed she was in love with the antagonist (I don’t think he deserves the term villain since I never saw him as a threat) but then she morphs into an intelligent young lady in the last few chapters. I just didn’t buy that she could be that smart, yet she believed the antagonist’s lies over her family in the first half of the book.

I’m giving up on this series after two books have failed to impress me. Fortunately, they were short books so I didn’t waste 6-8 hours reading each book, just 4 hours per book.

[Pam Bereznak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Kathleen Ayers writing. This is my 24th book by her. I read one of her books in 2016 but didn't picked her up again faithfully in 2019 and now she is one of my top favorite authors. For my birthday last year, my future DIL bought some of my favorite books by her and was able to get her to personally sign them for me. What a fantastic gift. This has been such a great series.

So Kathleen did not disappoint. I LOVED Malcolm and Alyss. Such a great couple. Loved their personalities and their chemistry. Story was awesome. Sex was great. She was feisty and he sounded freakin' hot. I added this to my list of favorite reads of Feb 2024. Since I started keeping a favorites list in 2020, this is my 9th Kathleen Ayers book listed as a favorite.

[Debby *BabyDee* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an eARC of this book via NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Publishing: February 22, 2024
Series: The Five Deadly Sins #4
Pages: 211

I have never read anything by author, Kathleen Ayers so starting at book number 4 in “The Five Deadly Sins” series leaves me to ponder why I have never tapped into her novels. This was a fast-paced romance and a quick read for this reader. The main characters were a bit abrasive and grumpy but alas they meshed well together. There is banter and whitism between them in their conversations that at time having you smile. What to say about the heroine, Alyss Brooks…she can be hot-tempered with sass of wanting to be right all the time but ends up becoming troublesome due that fact. She’s not one who wants to get married and dead set against falling in love. Malcolm Sinclair on the other hand is so financially strapped, that he is trying just about anything to set his family to right. Two opposites in a trope of forced proximity, find themselves isolated in a cottage for days/nights due to a storm. Open door intimacy that is oh so steamy in the romance department…what I like included in my historical romances, that it is hot off the pages. I too, enjoyed the sub-characters in the story…guessing they are mentioned in the three books before this one fourth. I enjoyed the characters, plot, twists, whit, passion, and a page-turner. Well-developed, well-written, and well-said on the pages. Going to have to venture on reading the other three sins that I’ve missed out on in this series. My recommendation…consider reading.

[Sally Jask-eh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malcom and Alyss’ story was great. the h name spelling makes me think of a 🐍 from
jungle book saying it every time I read it. But this one was one of my favs from the series. Malcom has been off killing on the continent. I loved the doge guard bit. Alyss is sooo clever and a real survivor. Malcolm and Al🐍 have a hot time during the storm and the villain causes trouble afterwards. I roared and laughed when Al🐍 beats his a@$. The dainty cousin ends up being a bit of a know it all herself.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malcolm Sinclair, former soldier, and mercenary has once more landed in trouble & he needs to leave Calais like yesterday!. So he’s only too happy to perform a small task for Lord Buckmore. Kidnap the young lady Buckmore wishes to wed from her overzealous, overprotective cousin. Miss Alyss Brooks is known for her scathing tongue, her ability to wield a parasol most proficiently, and her absolute dislike of her cousin’s suitor, Lord Buckmore. When Alyss is mistaken for her cousin, she sees an opportunity to confront the vile young lord once and for all. Instead of vengeance, Alyss finds herself stranded far from London with no way home. A thunderstorm makes matters worse. She’s robbed. Worst of all, the only man willing to offer any assistance is her kidnapper, Sinclair.
The fourth book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I loved Malcolm who desperate to get home agrees to Buckmore’s plan only for things to go wrong when he kidnaps the wrong woman! I struggled to love Alyss who was so blinkered about being right that she acted without thought. I thoroughly enjoyed the book & loved how Malcom & Alyss’s relationship changed & deepened. Whilst I was pleased Buckmore got a comeuppance of sorts I would have liked him to have suffered more. A well written, entertaining romance with plenty of fireworks.
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I picked this book up mid-series because I was drawn in by the cover art and synopsis. The artwork is utterly fetching and Dragonblade has the prettiest covers to boot. Sinfully Yours had a unique premise: masquerading as your dearest friend to confront her nefarious suitor and scare him off. Alyss gets abducted by a beefcake with nary a peep until her cover is blown. She didn't hold her disguise very long because she spends the rest of the book stuck with her dreamy faux kidnapper trying to get back to London. I was intrigued by the plot, but Alyss was a nasty little heroine with a parasol that could put someone's eye out.



While I found Alyss to be cold and abrasive, thankfully the hero compensated for her prickly temperament. Malcolm knew immediately he had the wrong victim and played along until he received some much needed coin. He was very likable and I wouldn't have behaved as poorly as Alyss did in his company. It's difficult as a reader to root for a potential couple when the heroine is kicking and screaming her way through an attempted romance. If she's not into it, why should I? With an obstinate shrew and a reluctant kidnapper as objects of affection, it's a rocky path at every turn. They did have great chemistry together but Alyss was determined to kill their blossoming love.



I know I didn't read this series from the beginning, but I don't believe I'll explore the previous collection. I enjoyed some aspects, but it's not a pleasant reading experience when heroines dig their heels in at the chance of love. Dragonblade Publishing is one of my favorite indie houses, but they can't all be winners. I'm grateful for this opportunity even if it didn't meet my expectations. If I were consensually abducted by a dreamboat like Malcolm, it wouldn't take more than a few batted eyelashes for me to say I'm Sinfully Yours.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since reading the first book I knew Malcom’s book would be my favorite, and the real thing did not disappoint. Malcome is rough, ready to brawl, and deadly. He is also the most romantic of his brothers, how he thought and spoke of his mother just Le sigh. Alyss, is a stubborn by choice spinster with a great sense of right and wrong and she lovessss being right. This is sweet, romantic, and good sex scenes. I really enjoyed when he reunited with his family, I am attached to all of them at this point. I hope aunt Lottie is more in the next one I have missed her and I want her and Mr. Worthington to get happy endings as well. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Susan (susayq ~) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Malcolm is my favorite Sinclair! Malcolm just wants to get back to London to his family so he can help them. So to make sure he gets to London he accepts the task of kidnapping Miss Elizabeth Brooks. What he doesn't know is that his family has already pulled themselves out of poverty. And he kidnapped the wrong woman.

Alyss Brooks was proud and stubborn and honestly got on my nerves a bit thinking she was always right and not even considering that her being right and proving it wasn't the best thing for her. I mean, who willing lets themselves get kidnapped?

Despite Alyss's headstrong nature, she and Malcolm have lots of chemistry and get their happily ever after. Truly, Alyss fits in the Sinclair family well.

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ .5🌶️

Sinclair was so unbearably male. It was rare—as in never—that Alyss found herself feeling dominated by a man

On one hand I liked that the focus of the story was mainly on Alyss and Malcom, but I did miss getting more of the other Sinclair’s involved in the plot.

Right away I loved Malcom. He’s been much of a mystery until now. He’s introduced here, trying to get home to London, taking on a kidnapping job to help secure his passage out of France.

Alyss is a heroine I do not gel well with. Far too stubborn and prideful for her own good. Although I did see the attraction and chemistry between her and Malcolm, as he bantered magnificently with her and didn’t give her the chance one up him; which of course frustrated her.

This was a really quick read and even though I liked the couple the story was a little lackluster. The first 50% was paced pretty well and I enjoyed but I feel like the second half was one big missed opportunity. This would have been a much better story had it been longer with more obstacles or plot twists once they arrived back in London to really make these two work harder for their HEA. Alyss’s martyrdom just made it hard for me to enjoy.

[Rainelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinfully Yours. My fellow readers, please forgive me, but I have to share this review with other readers out there. How dare you try to persuade me from sharing my thoughts and views regarding such a beautiful and loving story. A story about two souls who are totally committed to seeing their families happiest of dreams come true. If it should so happen that these two lovely people come together on a night by no choice of their own.
Well I am going to shout to the rafters of how our male main character, Malcolm’s takes pleasure in making the beautiful Alyss scream and shout his name all night. Read the book. You may find it an irresistible read, just as I have. My reviews are here for a little fun and casual girl talk over some spectacular writing from our favorite authors. It just so happens that I have many.
So hear me roar about Sinfully Yours. I was was absolutely thrilled about the main couple. And I definitely loved the creativity surrounding the writing behind the many amazing scenes. There are a few aspects of the story that makes the growing romance between Malcom and Alyss, all the more real. In the meantime though, Malcom took a lot of lumps along the way.
I feel that the author checked off every trope that I looked for in the story. My fellow readers and writers understand, and know how I feel about the really good tropes added to a romance novel. So, when the writer added certain tropes to this love story, I couldn’t resist sharing them with you. My favorite moments of the story, are when Malcolm and Alyss challenge one another over the simplest of issues. I think this was a game of four play.
To see how far one can push the other. Perhaps to see who would take that first leap. The leap of what you ask? It’s not my secret to share. You will need to read the book.
Now, as I said before. Introducing the parasol into the story as Alyss’s side kick was a whacking of a good time. I could hear the thump of the parasol every time that it was used. Having the parasol take center stage during a few intense situations enhanced the funny and often times comedic moments. Can you hear that? It’s the resounding desire of Malcolm’s heart, pounding for the little minx with that annoying bow, that sits right there perfectly on Alyss’s shoulder.
It’s that same spot, that Malcolm wishes claim as his own by one erotic lick of his tongue. Mm-hm. I said it. You see. Certain readers like me love reading about all the carnal desires and wishes of our characters in historical romance novels.
It allows us to fantasize and get away for awhile. The readers like me call that getting lost in a book. There are some who love, the mystery, the romance, family drama, scandal, duty and honor. These and there are others that I could state too, that speaks to us the readers. And when we come across said good book, such as Sinnfully Yours, we might just like to share a review about it.
So, with an opened mind this is what I really thought about Malcom and Alyss’s stolen moments. I’m keeping it real readers. As Malcolm’s index finger glides down Alyss’s luminous, glowing skin. That simple touch ignites the explosive proximity of carnal desires for the two. I don’t know about you, but I will always love a good tup scene in a book.
Possibly even more than one good tup scene. Ladies, the delectable Malcom is one male character that I wouldn’t mind being forced to share a cabin with on a stormy night. Sharing just one blanket is a terrible state to be in. Let’s be real ladies. That blanket is there just for an accessory display.
Now me, I could come up with a number of exciting ways to entertain the young Mr. Malcom Sinclair. My favorite game is hide and you go seek. Malcom’s character commanded many scenes that are very memorable for the readers. His ultimate goal is to make it back home to what he considers is hugely important to him. The scene between him and his siblings almost had me in tears.
I consider it one of the most profound moments in the story. I thought Alyss’s character exceedingly the most entertaining character in the book. The writer did an outstanding job with creating a female character, whose bold powers of persuasion, brings a man like Malcolm to his knees. This is a good book to lose sleep over.
I give this book two snaps and a, Huzzah! For an impressively written historical romance novel. Until next time my fellow readers. Read on!

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this story and this is my freely given opinion.

This is the story of the missing brother of the Sinclairs, Malcolm. He is the twin to Drew, and has been away from England as a soldier, then a mercenary for years. When he finds out that their hated half brother had died, and his older brother has inherited the Earldom, he starts making his way back to England. What he fails to hear, in his travels, is that the Sinclair's fortunes have improved and many of his siblings have found happiness, and working their way back into some standing in Society. As far as he knows, their half brother left them a ruined estate and he needed to use his savings to help them.

Unfortunately, before he is able to make it the shores of England, he finds himself on the run as his gold is stolen and he is threatened to be named as a murderer. In this situation, he runs into a previous acquaintance who is aware of Malcolm's particular set of talents and offers him a chance to make his way back to England with funds, in return for his help in a scheme. Despite his own lack of respect for the man, he agrees to the scheme, which is apparently to kidnap the woman the man loves, but is stymied by her jealous, ugly, harridan witch of a cousin, Alyss Brooks, who is keeping the two lovers apart, and poisoning his chances.

Alyss Brooks is a spinster, with an unconventional childhood that has left her cynical and untrusting of men. She loves her uncle and cousin though, who took her in as a child, after losing her mother, and she works hard to protect her naive young cousin from rakes and fortune hunters.

Unfortunately, in a mistaken identity circumstance, Malcolm kidnaps the wrong Brooks lady, and Alyss foolhardily allows this to happen so she can face the miscreant who initiated the kidnapping and give him a piece of her mind. When his plans to kidnap the young heiress are stymied, the foppish rake maliciously stymies Malcolm and Alyss by abandoning them, with no transport, no pay for Malcolm, and barriers to prevent them from making it back to London. They end up forced to spend time in a rustic cottage together. When forced to spend the night together, and despite their hostile beginnings, Alyss and Malcolm's steamy attraction to each other combusts into a night of passion.

Regardless, Alyss still does not trust Malcolm, continuing to think he is in league with the man who hired him. She also does not realize how much her world has fallen apart, thanks to gossip and scandal about her time away, fueled by the scheming fop, until she returns and finds out how she has been maligned. She is forced to swallow her pride, and consider previously unpalatable options to save her reputation and not taint that of her family. Malcolm is forced to act when he belatedly realizes he loves Alyss and risks losing his chance of a future with her.

A faced paced sexy forced proximity, enemies to lover story that is quite sinful and steamy. Malcolm definitely comes across as the brooding bad boy of the Sinclairs and definitely a deadly Sin! I also liked the secondary character of the cousin of Alyss - who initially seemed to be rather flighty and fluffy, but ultimately that may be an act and she is more sly and savvy than she appeared at the beginning.

4.5 stars out of 5

[Alexandra G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A single-minded feisty fairy, the deadliest sin and a whole lot of rumors, scandal and ruined reputations - excellent!

At thirty, sharp-tongued umbrella wielding Alyss is a confirmed spinster who made it her mission to protect her cousin from fortune hunting fools. One sleazy and wasteful fool in particular. So when she’s accidentally kidnapped instead of her cousin, she grabs her chance to set said fool straight.
Turns out pummeling your cousin’s wannabe-fiance might leave you stranded, robbed, soaked to the bone and at the mercy of your kidnapper…

Like his siblings, Malcolm did his part to help his disgraced family survive. Having a knack for fighting, the army turned him into the deadliest of the five sins. Preferring to be his own master, he sold his commission and became a mercenary. And now one last simple job will take him home after many years on the continent.
Only, he kidnapped the wrong lady… but, this one is so much more entertaining. A vicious kitten with curves in all the right places. If only he could make her purr…

There stranded in together alone in a cottage in the middle of nowhere in a thunderstorm, and that’s when lightning strikes!

📚 She’s so stubbornly set on being right all the time, she rarely thinks of the consequences and least of all how it might ruin everything. He’s tired of his old life and just wants to get home to his family. Both of them cheated and left behind by a vile gossiping sleazebag, he can’t help but feel protective of her. Attraction is mutual and instant - so much chemistry - but she won’t go down without a fight. And oh, what a glorious fight it is!
This story is intimate, passionate, devious, witty, wicked and wonderful!
I love everything about this book - the characters, the plot, the simple setting, the writing, the sarcasm and clever banter - everything! This whole series is marvelous, and I cannot recommend it enough!

[BookishMya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am quite hopelessly in love with the Sinful Sinclairs. I do not think I could choose a fav. Malcolm and Alyss give all the teeth and claws of a delightful enemies to lovers tale. They are both life worn with grit and vulnerability. I love the bite in Alyss’ character. She is not demure, prim or even kind but behind her barbs lies a wounded heart of gold. She is paralyzed by fear. Fear of love, the kind of love that has you constantly following as her mother did her father. That kind of love feels like a trap, but it is truly the escape when you love someone who also follows you. Malcolm’s love for her is plain from the start. He likes tart things, and the more Alyss unleashes her inner vicious fairy, the more drawn in he is. Sometimes battles are expressions of love, banter and bickering the language of that love and these two have that in spades. Their passion is combustible and burns bright in every interaction. I absolutely delighted in the family reunion, literally kicking in glee. It was everything I hoped for and more. If the five deadly sins are truly deadly, consider me done in! I adore this family in all its unconventional glory! Thank goodness we still have Aurora because I am not ready to say goodbye.

[S · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Mistaken Identity Mishap
Sinfully Yours presents an intriguing premise: a hired kidnapper mistakenly abducts the wrong woman. This unexpected turn of events sets the stage for a compelling story filled with misunderstandings and potential for romantic tension. The author effectively builds suspense as the heroine grapples with the aftermath of the ordeal, believing she has been irrevocably compromised. The ensuing angst is palpable, and readers will find themselves invested in the characters' journey towards resolution.

However, the portrayal of the heroine as an older, "old spinster" archetype is a disappointing misstep. Such a characterization feels outdated and undermines the potential for a more complex and relatable female lead. It's a shame that the author chose to rely on this cliché instead of creating a fully developed, contemporary character.

Despite this drawback, the story’s core concept and the initial development of the characters hold promise. With a more nuanced approach to the heroine, this novel could have been a standout in the genre.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malcolm returns! The missing Sinclair brother returns to England after a military and mercenary career. News of his family’s change in fortunes has not reached him, and he takes one last sketchy job in order to get back to England in time for his youngest sister’s debut.

(You should probably start at the beginning of the series, as some of the details about the Sinclairs are explained in the first three books. They aren’t terribly long, and they’re all good.)

Malcolm agrees to abduct a young lady for an acquaintance. Lord Buckmore is determined to marry Miss Elizabeth Brooks, heiress, to restore his coffers. He has blown through his own funds and needs a top up. Elizabeth has a cousin, Alyss, who is equally determined not to let her fall victim to Buckmore.

Malcolm is *supposed* to snatch Elizabeth so Buckmore can compromise her and force her into marriage. Buckmore isn’t terribly bright, and fails to describe her well enough for Malcolm to be sure he’s snatching the right lady. Of course he gets Alyss. And they have some misadventures.

Malcolm’s path back to his family, as you can probably tell, is complicated. He and Alyss have a bit of baggage, they’re both stubborn, and their HEA seems doomed to fail.

All of this happens in a short book, just like the previous three installments in the series. This series has fun, well developed stories and interesting characters in easy to read packages. I recommend all of the books, and you really should start at the beginning. The books are not clean, so if you prefer clean romance, please don’t read them. They are not OTT, however.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short and sweet romance with a feisty heroine and rascally hero. There are several other books in this series, but this is perfectly readable as a standalone as well. The pacing of the story is quite fast, but the characters and their relationships were handled well and the heroine was particularly fun to get to know. The side characters were also interesting, and I may go back and read the previous books to learn more about them.

Perhaps because of the book’s short length, I did think that the conflict and resolution thereof felt a little forced, and the villain characters a bit one-note, but it didn’t really hurt my reading experience either. The romance between the two main characters was good as the main focus of the book. If you’re looking for a short, sexy, and witty afternoon read, this is the book for you.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for this ARC. This is my honest review.

4/5 Kidnapping the wrong woman leads to unexpected, steam results.

[Shelley-Ann Beer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Kathleen Ayers. I have loved all 24 of her books and wait with bated breath for her new releases. The Sinclair’s are a family that has found a place in my heart. They had the worst thrown at them and kept their humour and integrity throughout. Each member of the family has been strong, interesting and believable. Although we have heard about Malcolm over the first 3 books not much is known bar, he is in Europe fighting as a soldier. I liked him instantly and was rooting for his HEA. Alyss was a more bruised human and covered her vulnerability with stubborn and unyielding determination almost to her own detriment. I loved how she was written and 'got' her. My favourite thing with a series is having the characters that I loved before and the ones still to read about mentioned in a catch-up, Ms Ayers is really good at finding a way to thread them into the tale and make it all gel coherently. Each of the 4 siblings so far has mentioned their mother and how she affected their lives, it is these special things that make KA such a good storyteller. I loved this book - it was well-written, had a great story and loads of amazing steam. Highly recommend.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malcom & Alyss. I really love the Sinclairs and have been waiting for Malcom's story to come along. He didn't disappoint in this novella. Given the length of the book there wasn't room for backstory but KA did a good job of giving us enough backstory for both MCs to understand them.

We start off with Malcom getting robbed in an inn and being accused of murdering some guy at inn (the dead guy's wife poisoned him). So he was on the run and went looking for Buckmore. He had previously met him when he was offered a job but declined. Now that he was on the run and robbed of his $$$ he decides to take Buckmore up on his job offer to kidnap the lady that had caught his eye.

As for Alyss...she is the 30 y/o spinster cousin to Elizabeth. Buckmore had wanted to court/marry Elizabeth but Alyss knew his actual character and he wasn't allowed to court her. Cliff's notes, the guy was going broke and wanted to marry Alyss for her dowry and use it to keep up his life of gambling and keeping mistresses. Not being able to get around Alyss and Elizabeth's dad (who also didn't like Buckmore) he decided to force it by having Malcom kidnap her so he could ruin her and force the marriage.

Malcom finds Alyss and Elizabeth in the park and kidnaps Alyss on accident instead of Elizabeth. Alyss didn't put up a fight because she wanted to confront Buckmore for his scheme. She got to confront him but then he left her stranded in the country and paid the people around to not help her get back to London. The ride she procured ended up robbing her and leaving her stranded. Then it starts storming and she's forced to return to Buckmore's cottage where she sees that Malcom had broken in. He had also been stranded because Buckmore had no intention of actually paying Malcom his fee for kidnapping Elizabeth.

They chat and she's still very prickly but they end up hooking up. The next day he returns her to London and he returns to the country to get back the necklace that was stolen from her in the robbery. She returns to rumors set by Buckmore that Alyss had planned the entire kidnapping and to get his attention but also planned it so she could meet a random lover she had. Alyss had been ruined and was treated as a pariah and being forced to wed this random man that she couldn't stand (looks like a toad with a huge nasty mustache).

Malcom finds Alyss in the park and returns her necklace. Alyss ruins everything because she thinks he intentionally ruined her. She has major trust issues and a huge lack of self esteem. Oh...she also finds out she's pregnant. Malcom forces Buckmore to recant which should let Alyss off the hook to marry the "toad". She still planning on going through with it because she's pregnant. Elizabeth goes to Malcom to tell him about the wedding and how Alyss feels about him (oh and the baby). He shows up to stop the wedding by kidnapping her again and marrying her himself.

For being a novella, KA knows how to write a spicy couple with great chemistry. She's definitely on my must read every book she writes list of authors.

I received an ARC copy of this book but the above review is my own.

[iReadBooksNSchit · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a desperation to their joining, a violent battle of wills, each unable to relinquish control to the other. Restraint, what little either of them possessed, had long since fled. “Alyss,” he growled next to her ear, sucking in the lobe, and drawing his teeth over the edge. He kept his fingers tangled in her hair, pulling at the moonlit strands, bending her body to his will. Slowing his movements, he twisted his hips, catching at the place they were joined.

A low moan came from her lips. “More, vile kidnapper.”

Lawd…after reading Sinfully Yours, I know I can’t be the only one planning her own kidnapping now can I? My ad would go something like …ISO someone incredibly handsome, strong enough to toss all this goodness ova his shoulder and knows his way around the kitchen of a small remote cottage. Rogue should be prepared to cater to my needs and handle all sort of “weapons and tools”...Y’all, Malcolm Sinclair is just the vile scoundrel for the job. This dangerous man personifies sin in the most seductive manner, marking him as the most tempting of the five deadly "Sin"clairs.

Sinfully Yours is an absolute blast! You've got a revenge-driven Mary Poppins type spinster duking it out with rogues trying to charm her naive  protégé. The dynamic between the two main characters is electric. They're either in a heated battle of wills or wrestling with the temptation to... well, you know...The banter is sharp and fiery, dripping with sarcasm. And the chemistry? It's like a powder keg ready to blow!

Malcolm Sinclair, ex-soldier and current mercenary, lands in hot water and needs to return to England.  He quickly strikes a deal with Lord Bukmore for a free ride back to London – all he has to do is kidnap Buckmore’s desired bride from her distasteful spinster of a cousin. The plot thickens when Malcolm snatches the wrong Miss Brooks—Alyss, a parasol-wielding, sharp-tongued woman with zero love for Buckmore. Mistaken identity turns Alyss's confrontation plan on its head, leaving her stranded, robbed, and dripping wet, with her kidnapper, Sinclair, unexpectedly becoming her only ticket out of the mess. Talk about a kidnapping gone off script!

Malcolm and Alyss are a sheer joy together. Although Sinfully Yours stands alone beautifully, diving into the rest of the Five Deadly Sins series will only enhance your experience. Don't miss out on the temptation of "Sinfully Yours", it's a guaranteed delight.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sinfully Yours by Kathleen Ayers is another in the series: The Five Deadly Sins. Malcolm Sinclair had been asked to leave the army. One too many fights. But having been robbed there was no way for Sinclair to get back to England except to accept the offer made him by Lord Buckmore: passage to England and gold when the abduction was complete. The abduction was Miss Elizabeth Brooks, more of a rescue, really. They wanted to marry, but her loathsome cousin, Miss Alyss Brooks guarded her with ferocity. He would find her a willing abductee. So Sinclair reluctantly agreed. Given that Buckmore’s feelings for the woman played into his description, Sinclair took the wrong, woman, Buckmore having described her to be a beauty. The one he took was a beauty: Miss Alyss. One the journey to meet Buckmore, Miss Alyss figured it out, Sinclair didn’t until he delivered her. At that point, Buckmore refused payment as well as the promised horse and left them and found he himself stranded with a very angry Miss Alyss Brooks.

Malcolm was a good character, written by a master. His family and he had led a hard life. He had no way of knowing their fortune’s had reversed. They were still outcasts from the ton, but what matter? Elizabeth was a simpering young miss, but she was an heiress and did finally show some gumption near the end. Alyss had a sharp tongue and an even sharper wit and Sinclair was enthralled. The ton loved a scandal and so when Buckmore returned to London with a story to tell, they were all ears. It was a cleverly written book, full of twists and turns. Sinclair’s family had all had interesting stories, so why not join them? Thanks Kathleen Ayers for an entertaining novel!

I was invited to read Sinfully Yours by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #KathleenAyers #SinfullyYours

[Dolly Dagger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grumpy/Clueless

* standalone: no
* Book 4 of a five-book series
* very early Victorian setting, early 1840s
* MMC is younger than FMC; he’s 28 she’s 30
* is there sex before 50%? No, but there is steamy open-door sex
* tropes
* only one bed
* oops, I kidnapped the wrong person


The novel is shorter than previous books at just over 200 pages

The MMC has been mentioned in previous books, but he’s always been the most mysterious character. It’s great to get his story finally.

He’s a former soldier who is tired of working as a mercenary. He saves up a lot of money that gets stolen from him as he is on the eve of returning to England, unaware that his family’s fortunes have changed, so he believes he has no choice but to accept one last job from a shady character.

The FMC is, for all intents and purposes, sour and unlikable. She’s incredibly stubborn to the point of martyrdom. This isn’t really a grumpy/sunshine story because Malcolm isn’t particularly sunny and Alyss is beyond grumpy, almost unlikable.

Malcolm is a wounded warrior, even though his wounds are primarily invisible to the naked eye. Alyss also has her wounds as an orphan living in the care of her uncle with a whole lot of unresolved resentment towards her deceased parents.

Just because she’s so sour and stubborn doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the story.

I enjoy Kathleen Ayers' writing so much. She knows how to write a compelling story with tension and romance, as well as a heavy dose of spice. Her heroes and heroines are never one-dimensional, and her villains are always so vile and dastardly that they make me squirm a bit. In all of her novels Whenever the villain is defeated, it’s always such a cringy ride, but such a satisfying one at the end.

I just have come to really love the Sinclairs so much. The fact that they were exiled for so long and survived makes for a depth of character not usually seen The fact that they are so devoted to one another and hold such a reverence for their deceased mother is endearing

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for this ARC. This is my honest review.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Kathleen Ayers does it again. Sinfully Yours, book 4 in the the Five Deadly Sins, doesn't disappoint. Sinfully Yours revolves around Malcolm Sinclair. He has been in the military and has been out of touch with his family. He is unaware of the drastic changes his family has made. Going from a hell hole of a house, that ended up killing his mother, with only cabbage to eat, to the heir to a coal mine on said property. Now the wealthy Sinclair's, unbeknownst to Malcolm. He agrees to Lord Buckmore's wild demands in return for coin. The payment will allow Malcolm to get back to his family and help them out some.

All Lord Buckmore wants is to marry the "love" of his life Elizabeth Brooks but Elizabeth's meddling cousin Alyss keeps getting in his way. Lord Buckmore hires Malcolm to kidnap his intended so they can be found in a compromising position, where Elizabeth's father will have no other option but to allow marriage. What Malcolm doesn't know is that Buckmore only wants to marry Elizbeth for her dowry because he is broke and has been lying to Elizabeth.

So the plot to kidnap begins. The only problem is, Malcolm kidnaps the wrong girl. He realizes pretty quickly, Alyss isn't Elizabeth. Not letting on he continues to let Alyss believe he is in the dark of who she really is. The chemistry between these two is undeniable. It escalates pretty quickly with the both of them and there are some HOT scenes. Of course both are stubborn, which keeps them apart. They eventually realize, they love each other and want to be together.

Sinfully Yours had me laughing and loving the banter between Malcolm and Alyss. Although you can read this as a standalone, I would suggest starting from the beginning so you get the whole background of the family. Thank you NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for the opportunity to read Sinfully Yours.

[FULVIA BELLINATO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malcom doesn’t know the Sinclair’s financial situation has vastly improved since he last heard from his sister so it’s out of desperation and the need of money that makes him agree to kidnap a young lady on behalf of her so-called beau. But as soon as he has her, he knows she’s the wrong woman.
Alyss should have said something as soon as she realized what was going on but her need to prove that her cousin’s suitor was only after her money and having the satisfaction to confront him herself and expose him to the authorities makes her so reckless and impulsive that she doesn’t think of the consequences of being alone for two days with a man: her kidnapper.
Another gripping and original story in the world of The Sinclairs! I really hope the author will come up with some unknown relative and keep writing about them!!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start with saying I love Ayers. She is a go to historical romance author for me. This novel tells the story of Malcolm and Alyss. Malcolm is unaware of his family’s change in fortune and takes one last mercenary job to kidnap a prospective bride for her suitor, but accidentally abducts the bride’s disapproving cousin Alyss instead. So ensues a push and pull romance. Alyss was a bit much at times with her whole “I refuse to love and I know everything” but to Ayers credit-she fully acknowledges that Alyss can be a terrible know-it-all by having other characters call her out for it. And it is actually kind of adorable that Malcom loves her anyhow. He loves all of her. It reminds me of Arabella and Rowan from the “Wickeds” series. If you liked them then you will like this couple. Thank you NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

[Tiffany Ponds-kimbro · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something to be said for a girl who knows her own mind and trusts her instincts. It’s quite another when your pride gets in the way of your safety, and you facilitate your own ruin. There’s also something to be said about a man who has continued to risk his life to improve his family’s circumstances but may have taken it just a job too far in this instance. They are both so stubborn but so dedicated to those they love.

This book was such a fun read and it was great to be reintroduced to the family. I’ve looked forward to this entire series since the first installment.

I received an ARC copy of this book for my honest review.

[Petula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malcolm Sinclair hasn't had much contact with his siblings since he became a soldier.  Things are getting too dangerous on the continent for him, so it's time to go home. If only he could. 

Alyss Brooks is happy being a spinster and keeping the fortune hunters away from her cousin. 

This historical romance is part of a series, but each book can be read on its own.  Each of the Sinclair siblings has faced down a lot of scandal. This brother, though, could bring real trouble.  Our characters don't look for a sweet, normal life. They are much spicier types. 

Great fun. 

[Mary Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Fun story. Malcolm has had his money stolen so needs to get back to England. Horrible Lord Buckmore asks him to kidnap an heiress but to avoid the heiress's chaperone Alyss. Malcolm makes a mistake and grabs Alyss instead. He soon realises his mistake and does help Alyss, though Alyss isn't very grateful. Buckmore ruins Alyss's reputation.

In the meantime Malcolm is able to return to his now monied family. I like this series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Yraney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world of HR is not often kind to 2nd/3rd Sons. Ayer however is one of those authors that does such a compelling job at creating a romantic and realistic narrative.

Micheal is a killer for hire and has lived an eventful life after the war, where he was a Captain. Alyss lived an eventful life from the day she was born. She holds a lot of resentment towards the love her mother had for her father. And this has spoilt the concept of love for her. These two are character peas in a pod. They share similar “trying to find a home” dream.

Would I read this book again… likely. Ayer is one of those few authors that rival the old favourites in HR but maintain strong female characters with back bone and personality. I love the strong family connection and the carefree nature of love the Sinclair’s have for each other. Plus the butler Holly is a firm favorite of mine.

*******************SPOILERS……..

I have a few critical points.
1. This book was too short for me.
2. The 1 sex scene and sprinkling of intimacies were not enough for me.
3. I would have liked Alyss to have a moment where she was courted. Despite her doing a lot of running away from love. I think a certain balance of Michael pursuing her would have finished off the rough edges in this story. And yes he did pursue her in the end but that is the conclusion so it doesn’t count as much.
4. I needed more angst. I did feel the first 30 pages were wasted considering that the story was 174 pages.

[CATHERINE BURHANS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gotta love those Sinclairs! Unconventional, fearless, delightful! This series is terrific. Each story has been my new favorite! Malcom Sinclair’s story is no exception! He lives life on the edge, and loves just as hard. He finds a great match in Alyss Brooks, the parasol wielding spinster with the sharp tongue. Hired to kidnap her cousin, they meet when Malcom mistakenly kidnaps Alyss instead. Somehow, in the hours following, they can’t keep their hands off each other, and their sparing match evolves into a love match! It is a most enjoyable read!

[Ruchika Mahajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malcolm is the next Sinclair sibling we read in this book. He is a former soldier and now mercenary who agrees to abduct a lady so that Lord Buckmore can marry her .
I initially thought Malcolm is stupid . How can anyone agree to kidnap someone without knowing and confirming their complete identity.
Without spoiling the plot I would say Alyss was a little irritating as well.
Thankfully the leads had sizzling chemistry and the plot moves smoothly without being boring.
Overall an enjoyable read.