Sinfully Yours

Hellions of High Street #2

by Cara Elliott

THE HELLIONS OF HIGH STREET SERIES CONTINUES WITH SINFULLY YOURS...

Proper young ladies of the ton-especially ones who have very small dowries-are not encouraged to have an interest in intellectual pursuits. Indeed, the only things they are encouraged to pursue are eligible bachelors. So, the headstrong Sloane sisters must keep their passions a secret. Ah, but secret passions are wont to lead a lady into trouble . . .

SINFULLY YOURS

After an eventful Season, Anna Sloane longs for some peace and quiet to pursue her writing. Though her plots might be full of harrowing adventure and heated passion, she'd much prefer to leave such exploits on the page rather than experience them in real life. Or so she thinks until she encounters the darkly dissolute-and gorgeously charming-Marquess of Davenport.

Davenport has a reputation as a notorious rake whose only forte is wanton seduction. However the real reason he's a guest at the same remote Scottish castle has nothing to do with Anna . . . until a series of mysterious threats leave him no choice but to turn to her for help in stopping a dangerous conspiracy. As desire erupts between them, Davenport soon learns he's not the only one using a carefully crafted image to hide his true talents. And he's more than ready to show Anna that sometimes reality can be even better than her wildest imaginings . . .

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance, Fiction, Regency

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Cara Elliott started creating books at the age of five, or so her mother tells her. And Mom has the proof preserved in a family scrapbook—a neatly penciled story, the pages lavishly illustrated with full color crayon drawings of horses. Cara has since moved on from Westerns to writing about Regency England, a time and place that has captured her imagination ever since she opened the covers of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”

A graduate of Yale University, Cara has garnered numerous accolades for her writing, including two Daphne Du Maurier Awards for Historical Mystery /Suspense and two RITAs nominations for Regency Romance.

Cara loves to travel to interesting destinations around the world—however, her favorite spot is London, where the funky antique markets, used book stores and specialty museums offer a wealth of inspiration for her stories.

Reviews

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Hellions of High Street trilogy which features the Sloane sisters, three unconventional young women who, by virtue of their father’s belief that women should not be kept in ignorance of the world, are well educated and rather more savvy than the average debutante.

Anna is the middle sister and, like her siblings, is a writer, albeit in secret. Whereas Olivia, the eldest sister had penned political articles for a newspaper, Anna writes adventure novels under the pseudonym of Sir Sharpe Quill, featuring the swashbuckling and sometimes racy adventures of Emmalina Smythe and her swain, Count Alessandro.

With a deadline approaching and an unco-operative muse, when the ladies are invited to a house party in Scotland, Anna thinks such a remote location will afford her some peace and quiet in which to write, and hopes that her imagination will be stirred by spending a short time at a remote castle among the moors and crags of the Scottish Highlands.

Part of Anna’s problem is that her imagination has been rather occupied of late with the roguish smile, daring kiss and witty quips of Devlin, the Marquis of Davenport, widely known to be penniless rake of the worst sort, who cares for nothing and nobody. I confess, it was Davenport’s appearance as a secondary character in the previous book which was the principal reason I picked up this one. It was clear that there was something more to him than appearances suggested, and the verbal spats he engaged in with Anna made me want to read more about both of them.

In London, Anna finds herself far too preoccupied with the charming rogue, and decides an escape to Scotland is just the thing she needs both to finish her book and dispel her growing fascination with him.

But of course, that is not to be, for Devlin has also been invited to the house party, although his presence there is not for a simple visit. He has been sent there by the Home Office to investigate the threat to the life of a fellow guest – a German prince - to report back and, if necessary, help to neutralise the threat.

So the stage is set for an entertaining, madcap romp featuring two protagonists who are not what they seem to be at first glance. Devlin’s rakish reputation is not undeserved, but he is quietly attempting to rebuild his family fortune by his own industry; and Anna, who has spent her life being the perfect young woman, is, in reality, just a little more like her adventurous and inventive heroine.

The story may be a little formulaic (and somewhat daft!), but what lifts Sinfully Yours above the run-of-the-mill is the quality of the writing, and especially the dialogue, which is excellent. The verbal sparring between Anna and Devlin is some of the best I’ve read recently, and I enjoyed the author’s little double-ententres:

In this scene, the widowed Comtesse de Blois is trying to… attract Devlin’s attention:

“I much prefer to sketch handsome men.” Tracing a finger over the teardrop-shaped pendant nestled between her breasts, the comtesse added, “And beautiful baubles.”

And later, when it emerges that a ring belonging to the comtesse has gone missing:

“She does seem to have a flair for the dramatic,” commented Devlin

Anna [...] then couldn’t resist doing a little needling of her own. “You were the one who had the closest look at her baubles. Is it your opinion that one could have come loose from its settings?”

Their eyes met, and his were dancing with mirth.

“Alas.” Devlin exaggerated a sigh. “I did not ask permission to make a thorough examination of her jewels. However, from what I could see, they looked quite well made to me.”

I rather liked the way that we saw Devlin being just as much thrown-for-a-loop by his attraction to Anna as she was by hers to him. He was just as likely to find himself short of breath from looking at her or forgetting what he was going to say as she was, and when it came to their collaboration later in the book, I was pleased to see that he never made light of her contribution or her abilities. When he insisted she back off if he thought things were becoming too dangerous, it was never because he didn’t think she could handle it, it was because he was concerned for her safety. And Anna didn’t argue in the way of the TSTL heroine and then flounce off and put herself stupidly in danger trying to prove herself.

Sinfully Yours is one of those books where the reader knows exactly what they are getting before turning the first page, but it’s no less enjoyable for that. The plot is silly, but the chemistry between Anna and Devlin leaps off the page, and that, together with the fast pacing and sparkling dialogue makes it a fun and thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really wish Goodreads would give us half stars. 3.5 stars for Sinfully Yours.

I enjoyed this one. Sinfully Yours was an easy read. Easy to get into, easy to like characters, easy plot. It was one of those books that just plodded along. And I don't mean that in a bad way. It was a good book for a lazy afternoon or a stressful day when I just needed something simple. It wasn't a book that'll change my reader world but it soothed and left me content. Was a light read with a little humor and intrigue, some nice sexual tension and a little heat. It was a spot predictable in some ways but, again, sometimes you just need that easy read.

I enjoyed both characters. Anna (woohoo for the Annas) and Devlin were a great match. Both more than they seem on the outside, a little combative when it came to each other, sharp of wit and opinion. It was fun seeing them wind up at a Scottish house party for a month. Forced to deal with each other, be tempted and eventually joining forces to figure out who was plotting and planning on harming one of the royal guests.

The intrigue was rather predictable. There weren't any major twists or surprises for me on who was behind the plot but I enjoyed watching Anna and Devlin figure it out and unfold things bit by bit as they got closer together. The romance moved along slowly and I liked that. More them getting to know each other and the sharpness of their interactions softening. I did think it went from lukewarm to declarations at the end a little too quickly. Too big of a jump for me.

But, overall, enjoyable. I'll definitely be reading book three. The teasers throughout this one for that storyline were fun to watch happen :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reading Progress:

30%--So far so good! And a surprise of it being set in Scotland! Loving the zingy banter between them but ooo ready for things to get a little more tangled between them :D

Absolutely stunning cover plus a heroine named Anna. I'm in! #Covergasm



Reviewing for herding cats & burning soup.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this one, provided by the publisher through netgalley, even though it felt a bit too formulaic at times. I haven't read the first one in the series, but that didn't stop me from enjoying this one (I always dislike when you need to have that inside information to enjoy a book).

What I really liked

- The hero and heroine are great characters, a bit more complex than you'd expect in a historical romance. They have their secrets, although they're pretty good secrets, not the usual dross.

- The writing moves things along really well. The story flows quickly, the characters develop nicely and there is enough historical accuracy that I wasn't moved to scream out loud with frustration. In fact, there were lovely little pieces of wit scattered around in the dialogue, which I really enjoyed.

- I really liked how there are not too many steamy bits. The action, the plot, the secrets and the character development would have been overwhelmed with too many steamy interludes. As it was the steam factor was just right for this story.

What I didn't like so much

- It did feel a tad formulaic. Now, there's nothing wrong with that, of course, but with a couple of twists and turns here and there, it could have really been something special.

- I'm not keen on the sister thing in romances. Now, I know, I know, that's my issue, not anything wrong with the book, and it wasn't overwhelming etc, but it does annoy me when romances paint sisters are paragons of virtue all the time. Just once can't they hate each other?.. OK. Rant over.

- I knew Who Done It straight away, but, hey, this is a romance not an Agatha Christie.

So, 3 stars I liked it, and I'm really looking forward to the next in the series Passionately Yours.

[Ishabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cara Elliott is a name that has been around for some time in the historical romance genre. I know that for a fact. I see a lot of good things being said about her books. I don't always go for historical romance because they bore me sometimes. However, when I do, I make sure it's on a book written by a tried and tested author.

Sinfully Yours is the second book of the series. However, you can read it on it's own. Of course, it will be a lot more enjoyable if you were able to read the first book to. If not, that's fine. It does make you any less if a reader. I liked this book because of the heroine. I mean, she was unconventional.

In the past, ladies we're viewed as simply homemakers, property, someone to sire children with, someone to take a man's name after marriage, someone who had to really on a man. These hellions of high street defied the odds. They weren't at all like the women that historical society deemed as proper.

The heroine in this book was the more proper sister. However, it still did not mean that she was a simpering lady who lived for compliments on her looks, jewelry, and fashion sense. That is why I liked her a lot. The hero was also a good character. However, in this book, I feel like the heroine was the real hero.

One issue I had about the book was that I sounded cliche at times, and the story and conflict is not at all anything new. I've read many books with this story arc before, from many different genres too. I mean the overall theme was common. It is an entertaining read, though, so I can't complain much.

[Lucy Qhuay · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read, but without much depth.

I really liked Anna, the heroine. She was a strong, clever and independent woman, and that is always a plus, especially in historical romance.

But what I really loved about her was her spirit and the unique way she saw the world.

As a writer, she tended to present the world around her in terms of words and they were quite poetic, which in turn helped creating this mysteriously romantic atmosphere.

I also liked the struggle between the inner sinner and the inner saint in her.

She was obviously a sensual woman, with wants and needs that she knew would scandalize society, yet she knew that if she wanted to be happy and fill the void inside her, she would have to act on them. And she wasn't shy about it.

Davenport was a good hero, but I must say he didn't really have anything special that could catch my attention and put him in the list of my absolute favourites.

But he was nice. He was sexy and provocative and that's sure to create interesting scenes, when you add that to a feisty heroine.

All in all, a very light read for those who want to spend a good time.

[Amy Alvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in the Hellions of High Street series.

Anna Sloane's mother is surprised to hear that she wants to go to the house party in Scotland. But what Anna's mother doesn't know is that she wants to spend the time working on her book and not looking for a titled husband. She has also got to get away from "Devil" Davenport as he is proving to be too distracting.

The ton thinks that the Marquess of Davenport, Devlin, is a penniless rake that doesn't have a kind bone in his body. What they don't know, is that he does missions for the government and his reputation helps him learn things he wouldn't have otherwise. His next mission is at a house party in Scotland. The government thinks that someone is going to kill a visiting prince.

Anna and Devlin are both surprised to see the other when they arrive at the house party. One reason both of them accepted the invitation was to get away from the other. They each feel as if they spend too much time preoccupied with the other.

With each on a mission of their own, much speculation ensues. Anna sees Devlin sneaking around where he shouldn't be right when some jewelry goes missing. Is he so desperate for money that he must revert to stealing to make ends meet? Devlin catches Anna sneaking away from where the guns are kept and the prince's gun explodes the next day. Is Anna in on the plot to kill the prince?

Will they learn the truth about each other and find a way to marital bliss?

I knew from reading Scandalously Yours (SY), that Anna and Devlin would be the next h/h (at least I hoped they would be). The chemistry they had with each other practically jumped off the page. We briefly saw a side of Devlin in that story that made me believe that he was not exactly whom we were lead to believe he was (great foreshadowing!) Sinfully Yours definitely lived up to all that I hoped it would be.

One of the things I loved about SY, was the relationship between the sisters. In Sinfully Yours, Elliot continues with this theme and does it masterfully. We only see two of the sisters during this story, but I hope that changes with the story of the youngest sister (I've got my fingers crossed about who she will be paired off with).

We have a pretty good understanding of who Anna is from SY, but she truly comes into her own with this novel. She has always been the perfect sister, the one her mother told the others to emulate. We finally see the person she has been hiding behind this facade. The adventuress person who will do what she has to do get what she wants.

Devlin on the other hand was just the opposite. Known as a rake and not good for much else, we see the side of him that he has kept hidden. It takes the love of Anna to get him to share this side of himself. With every bit of new information, I fell a little bit more in love with him!

I just can't say enough about this series. I LOVE IT!! This series is the only one that I've read from the author, but from these two books I will definitely be picking up her other series.

Thanks go out to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read Cara Elliott before (though I would have sworn I had). Also I wasn't certain what I was getting into as this was the second book in the series. While Elliott doesn't make it necessary to understand the current book, it would have made some...motivations and circumstances easier to understand.

As an example - Davenport helped Olivia and Wexham in the first book (Scandalously Yours, which is how Anna met Davenport and their flirtation began. Its not necessary to this book, but after having read Passionately Yours, and seeing how Caro and Alec started THEIR flirtation in this book, I can see how it would have gone a long way to making some things make sense.

This was, simply put, a madcap romance. I'm tempted to say that Elliott didn't give a fig for how implausible the plot was, but I think that was part of the charm. The "Hellions of High Street" as the Sloane Sisters are known as, defy every convention of the time and rejoice in that defiance. Not once does Anna think that if she was more demure and proper she'd have less trouble. If anything she wishes she could be MORE audacious so she could solve more of her troubles without so much dancing around.

I appreciated the fact that Davenport, known as 'The Devil' (for a multitude of reasons...many well founded, some not so much), didn't try to dissuade Anna from her chosen attitude because he found it wrong or improper, but because he could very clearly see the danger she was setting herself up for that she was all but ignoring. And later, when some of Anna's more literary secrets are revealed, he's pretty much "Well. We really need to work on those romance scenes don't we?" without so much as batting an eyelash.

As I said the plot itself is a bit ludicrous and implausible, but this book is really more about the characters and their interactions. From the high minded poetry debates between Caro and Alec, to the veiled discussions the girls have in front of their mother in regards to their clandestine literary pursuits, this is a fun, enjoyable romance with some very heated moments.

[Corduroy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anna is one of three sisters who have to marry well. She's secretly an authoress. A previously-broke but now rich (but still rakeish) marquis kisses her on a balcony. I realized I was just not actually going to keep reading, so I'm calling it a DNF.

The descriptions of the characters' thoughts, and their dialog, makes my brain feel like the characters are not terribly bright. I can't roll with books that give me that feeling, generally. Sorry, book.

Here are the characters running into each other outside a party:


"You're not only an idiot, Lord Davenport, you are an annoying idiot. I'm well aware that you take perverse pleasure in trying to..."
Cocking his head, he waited.
"To annoy me," she finished lamely.
Another laugh. "Clearly I am having some success, so I can't be all that bumbling."
To give the Devil his due, he had a quick wit. Biting back an involuntary smile, Anna turned her head to look out over the shadowed gardens. [...]
She shouldn't find him amusing. And yet like a moth drawn to an open fire...
[kissing goes here]
For a fleeting moment it looked as though she were going to speak, but instead, she shoved him aside and walked off without a word.
Walked with her head held high, her spine ramrod straight, he noted, rather than pelter off in a torrent of tears and sobs.
Hard and soft- no question Anna Sloane was a contradition.
Which made her a conundrum.
But Devlin liked puzzles. They kept his own inner demons at bay.

To me, this has a lot of Tell, Don't Show going on, as well as the fact that no, that isn't a quick wit, actually, as well as CAN WE COOL IT WITH THE HEROES NICKNAMED DEVIL? Especially when they are always not really that devilish OR rakeish and it's more like "I like to drink and hang out at parties and make jokes and I have a smallish amount of manpain I pretend keeps me up nights."

[1-Click Addict Support Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't read the first book in this series, Scandalously Yours, then you'll be okay, technically. This could be read as a standalone. But since that book was so great, and gives us a great introduction to this family and its eccentricities, I highly recommend you read it first.

Sinfully Yours brings us around to the middle sister, Anna. Known as the “Hellions of High Street”, Anna and her sisters are not the conventional women of their time. Educated, adventurous, and capable, they are not women who cow down meekly to the men in their lives. Anna has always seemed to be the “proper” sister. Pretty and sweet, she appears to be the perfect society maiden. She is hiding a huge secret, as the writer of dashing and romantic novels. In society, she finds herself clashing constantly with a man know as Devlin “the Devil”…

We got to see snippets of the relationship between Devlin and Anna in the last book, so it was no surprise that these two were going to have hot sparks flying between them. Anna may be a virgin, but there is nothing cowering or timid about her, and she knows how to take what she wants! Trying to emulate the heroine of her novels, she finds herself thrown into a political assassination plot, mystery, scandal, and all the adventure she could want. And did I mention passion? Hot sexy passion? Cause there's that. The question is, can Anna reform the Devil, or does she even want to? I also loved getting to know the younger sister better. She is growing out of the left out school girl, and into a woman of her own. This book was just as fun as the first, and I can't get enough of this family! ~ George, 5 stars

[My Book Addiction and More MBA · Rating 5 out of 5]

SINFULLY YOURS by Cara Elliott is another exciting adventure of Regency Historical Romance set in England and Scotland. #2 in "The Hellions of High Street", but can be read as a stand alone. See,Scandalously Yours (The Hellions of High Street)

This is Anna Sloane,the Marquess of Davenport and a house party in Scotland. A tale of romance, passion, and a dastardly villain or two. A Romantic comedy to be sure with lots of passion, and of course a bit of danger, a villain or two, a consipiracy and you have an awesome tale. Filled with secrets, betrayal, an assassination plot, and of course finding love. What more could you want in a romance? A wonderful romp though England and Scotland. Oh I forgot to mention England's Home Office, a huge reward, and flying sparks between our Hellion of High Street, Anne and our sexy, notorious rake, Davenport.

What a wonderful Regency Historical Romance! I can hardly wait for Cara's story, which is coming soon in "Passionately Yours". These are the three "Hellions of High Street" and what a threesome they and their heroes are turning out to be. I love this series!

Ms. Elliott draws the reader into her stories with engaging, hilarious, albeit dangerous heroines and heroes and her intriguing, interesting, passionate storyline. Another tale, well done! I would highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys Regency, suspense, danger, witty banter, and a great read. Received for an honest review from the publisher.

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

[Ermione Pickwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have really good characters, especially the hero, Devlin Greville, Marquess of Davenport but once again the heroine, Anna Sloane, is less incisive; the one who positively and surprisingly keeps catching my attention is Caro, Anna and Olivia's younger sister.

Devlin is very sweet, in his own way; he cares a lot for Anna and his strong attraction towards the beautiful author is enchanting.
Miss Sloane is a good character as well, and all her secret life and her talent are an amazing strong point of the romance but in the end she's not as “shining” has the hero.
The mystery is very well-organised and I'm grateful for this.



TO READ THE COMPLETE REVIEW: Il Profumo delle Pergamene



** I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing (Forever) in exchange for an honest review, thank you for the opportunity.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinfully Yours is the 2nd book in this series. I loved the characters and the plot. Imo there were no parts in the book that dragged, the story flowed nicely. Devlin and Anna were made for each other.
I am really loving The Hellions of High Street series!

[Gerrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 stars

[Bona Caballero · Rating 3 out of 5]

El punto de partida de la serie The Hellions of High Street, dedicada a las hermanas Sloane, es que las damas de buena familia no han de perseguir empresas intelectuales, sino a los solteros codiciados. El problema es que a las Sloane les gusta la escritura, así que lo tienen que mantener en secreto para no perjudicar sus opciones de un buen matrimonio. La segunda hermana Sloane, Anna, detesta al infame Devlin Davenport, conocido como «Demonio» por su mala reputación, ausencia de honor y demás características prototípicas de un calavera de la Regencia. Esto se nota en sus esgrimas verbales. Acude a una reunión en un castillo escocés, donde espera acabar la novela que escribe a escondidas. Con lo que no contaba es que, entre los treinta invitados, se encuentre su némesis, Devlin Davenport. Cuando se meten asuntos de espionaje, acaban los dos desconfiando el uno del otro.
Regencia ligera, tipo Loretta Chase o Tessa Dare. Lo mejor es su desenfadado sentido del humor, con estos dos chinchándose pero sin perderse nunca el respeto. Un detalle que me gusta particularmente en el estilo de la autora es la cualidad atmosférica de muchas descripciones.
De esta novela publiqué crítica en español en El Rincón de la novela romántica, y una review en inglés en mi blog.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

*If you really really want to read this series I recommend this book (Sinfully Yours). Of the trilogy I found this one to be the best. The characters where more fleshed out and entertaining.*

The Sloane sisters are a family of Polite Society. They attend balls and are pressured to marry up by their mother like most young women their age. These sister's each bare a secret that could not only ruin their reputation, but also the family name; each of them write and publish themselves with a man's name! (Le gasp!) Each book focuses on each sister in turn and follows her exploits on trying to lead a perfect life in the 1800s England while trying to be true to herself, and whatnot, but also hide the self that's real. Then they all try to not feel sexy urges, too. Cause you know if you want to kiss a dude your a total slut by 17th century English standards.

The Bad- If you have read one book of the series, you really have read them all. The only difference would be the character names. I read these books back to back and man I was feeling deja vu. It was cut and paste the same! It's like the author had a check list that she kept following while writing the series.

1) Sloane sister meets a guy that is higher up in English society and gets on her nerves yet cannot help but be attracted to him. Check
2) Dude pov shows that he is also equally annoyed by Sloane sister but whenever he thinks of her his pants get a little tight. Check
3) Guy finds out that the heroine is really the uber popular Society Issue Critic/Racy Romance Novelist/Poetry writer. Check
4) While succumbing to their passions the guy notices how pink the inside of the girls ear is and that's hot. Check
5) Offers to marry girl right after they bang cause he ruined her. Only to be rejected by girl for making such an offer. (Even though it's the 1800s and back then that's a good deal for a chick.) Check.
6) Some plot happens where there's running to catch the bad guy. Check
7) And they get hitched. Checky Check flipin' CHECK!

Whew! So I guess you have read the series if you read the checklist; your welcome.

Now this is where I am gonna get serious. Throughout the series the sisters all recount how their late father documented various cultures and thus they had a 'different' upbringing, thus explaining their undercover careers that no normal lady would pursue.

The reader learns things like how their father studied primitive cultures by visiting the tribes-people of Crete. This sentence sums up the series in this topic. I could go into more detail but that would make this review very long, and these books are simply not worth the time.

Keywords: Primitive, culture, tribes-people and Crete

Now let me precede in ripping it apart. I have graduated college with a BA in Anthropology. So I have based my academic career in studying culture's, human/primate behavior, forensic's and much more!

Primitive:
That being said I do hope that the author was trying to make the main heroine's come off as snobby racist English girls because that's how it come out to me. First off, no culture should be considered 'primitive' for reasons being, when one thinks of the word 'primitive' you tend think 'simple' and/or 'dumb'. This is insulting because you wouldn't walk out of your air conditioned house, go up to a camp ground and tell people who are camping that they are 'primitive'. You would not also say to them, "You are so stupid, you could be sleeping in an air-conditioned house but instead you are sleeping outside like a pig."
This is exactly what you are saying when you call another person's way of life 'primitive'. There are tribes in existence at this very moment. They are not stupid people. The environment they live in either calls for that particular lifestyle or it just works for them. It would not be economical to have cars in the middle of a desert with no roads would it? Or what about the Amish? It's not because they don't know better, it's just that's how they choose to live.

Tribes-people:
In the first book, Scandalously Yours the main character says something to the effect of, 'the tribes people half were related to half of the island' (NOT a direct quote!). Let's define tribe- a group of nomads (travelers, never 'settle') numbering 20-50 people. I don't believe the author knows what a tribe is because if these people where in fact a tribe, they wouldn't be related to half the island. Unless there were two tribes. One would wonder, why would one be a nomad on an island? Well it's possible, it would depend on how big the island is. After all nomads go where the food is, so to speak. So how big is this island?

Crete:
Well I will tell you! It's much smaller than Japan! Wanna guess where Crete is? Remember the setting is 1800s Europe! So where would 'primitive' people be? Africa of course!~

Wrong! :) Crete is an island off of Greece!

Whaaaaaa?! Greece? But there's like people there that are so not 'primitive'..........
Yes ladies and gentlemen Crete is the biggest island off Greece and has been considered the place where all the smart peeps go. In fact Crete has been regarded as the 'place to be' for over thousands of years! Ottoman empire- idea started in Crete. Venice, Italy lifestyle = Crete. Greece universities = CRETE.

So I'm sure ya'll are thinking, 'But wait, if it's the 1800s wouldn't there NOT be any tribes in Greece? I mean their not known for tribes or 'primitive' culture. Also weren't the Brits heavily influenced by Greece?'

And the answer is YES!
This makes no sense! I think I could have maybe looked over the author writing the norm ignorance of culture's had she not made it Crete. I mean it's really hard to get into the story when you have such a gaping plot hole.......

I mean come on Cara Elliott! You could have googled 'Crete' and been like 'Oh snap, I guess this the one place NOT to set a fictional primitive culture!'.

The Good- Yeah that ship has sailed, then swallowed up by the plot hole.....

The Book- So if you only have a grasp of culture from from the 1800s, NEVER google things and are looking for a cut and paste read that screams "give me your money for little of my effort!" then The Hellions of High Street series is for you!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Anna wants after an eventful season is some quiet time to peruse her real passion, writing. She writes about action and adventure and passion but what she longs for is quiet and peace. Even though she's retreated to a quiet corner of Scotland, her peace is interrupted by notorious rake, the Marques of Davenport. Davenport had his own agenda for retreating to Scotland, secret he means to keep, but when his past puts Anna in danger he knows he'll need her help to keep them both safe. A really sweet, well written historical romance of two people who thought they were opposites but can't fight their attraction. Good read!

[Carina Trs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this second book a lot more than the first one. The plot was more interesting as well as the main leads. However I'm a bit disappointed by the ending. I wish we had seen how her sister and mother reacted to their marriage.

[Catherine Siemann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming historical romance complete with political plots, a rake, a compliant young lady who is secretly a defiant novelist, and the Scottish countryside. Fun.

[Marya · Rating 3 out of 5]

The multiple typos make this a painful read.

[Michelle ☽⁺✧. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Predictable and surprisingly pretentious writing, and a disappointing experience overall. A shame, I really liked the cover and the premise.

[Marsha Keeper Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

First reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf

Cara Elliott’s delightfully series The Hellions of High Street continues in Sinfully Yours…Anna and Devlin’s story. We got a glimpse of their attraction in Scandalously Yours (my review link) and I think we knew then that these two would be quite the couple. Neither one exactly as they show the world and both with hidden depths that each would compliment and bring out the best in the other. While you don’t have to have read the first novel in this series, and there are scattered references to it within the current story – it is a wonderful lead in novel to get a fuller picture of how these girls began. And let’s face it, you simply cannot go wrong with a Cara Elliott story, so pick that up if you get a chance – but it’s not really necessary to read it before enjoying Sinfully Yours.

All three sisters were well educated, an oddity for the time. Their father believed that his girls must be able to make their way in the world, should they need to and made certain that they got the schooling to ensure their futures. None of his daughters took this lightly, even if their mother was a bit bemused by their knowledge of things beyond the Ton and knowing the proper way to address the various nobility. Their mother would be happy for them to indulge in fashion more than books, and the various ways the sisters talk over their mother’s head about their true writings is funny and enchanting.

Anna writes scandalous, adventures instead of dry political commentary like her sister. She writes under the pen name of Sir Sharpe Quill (a double entendre if there ever was one), giving her hero and heroine fantastic adventures – ones that she secretly wishes she would encounter. Unfortunately, right now she’s doing more thinking of a certain Devil aka the Marquess of Davenport instead of writing her next, almost due, adventure story. When the opportunity to escape London for a house party in the wilds of Scotland, Anna sees a way to not only put Devlin out of her mind, but to have the time to concentrate on completing her current story. Perhaps the change of scenery and the beauty of the area will kick her muse into action once again.

Devlin is not at all what he appears. Oh, yes, he would easily agree that he is a rake, unrepentant in his enjoyment of the ladies. But it is that reputation of a penniless, love ’em and leave ’em, outrageously handsome rake that gets him into the places he needs to be. Devlin works for the Home Office, a spy if you will or even an undercover agent, but one with a more honorable slant than most of the Ton would ever give him credit for. Right now Devlin should be concentrating on his current assignment, the protection of a German Prince at a house party in Scotland. Instead, the lovely and annoying Anna is on his mind way too much. Now is the perfect time to leave London behind, and thoughts of the beautiful lady as well and get on with his work and rebuilding his life.

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) for our two attracted, potential lovers… they are both going to end up in Scotland and what an adventure they will have.

I adored Devlin and Anna, we got a glimpse of what they could be in Scandalously Yours, but what they became is pure charming and fun. For a while, each suspects the other for some of the happenings going on at the house party. But eventually they will solve the mystery and fall in the forever kind of love that both deserve. It was charming and funny to finally see a male fumble with his words, and not be entirely sure of himself. Usually that is left for the bumbling non-main male to do for comic relief. But when Dev got tongue tied or said the thing he didn’t mean to say – it stole a piece of my heart to see this strong man be uncertain and still plow ahead. And Anna got her adventure, perhaps more than she bargained for, but in the end not only her muse returned, but her true love as well.

I would highly recommend Sinfully Yours for several reasons. One, it’s a fun story. Two, it is an enjoyable addition to a really well thought out series. And three, this is perfect for any Historical Romance lover. What’s not to enjoy about a couple that work well together, a man who sees the strength of his lady and instead of keeping her back, believes in her abilities. Give yourself a treat and pick up Sinfully Yours – you will enjoy the adventure.

*I received an e-ARC of Sinfully Yours from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

[SidneyKay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excuse me, wasn't your hand doing tricks just yesterday?

Sinfully Yours is the second book in the Hellions of High Street series. The stories focus on the misadventures of the three Sloane sisters who are not your normal, everyday Regency misses. They all three have dreams, schemes and flying machines. Well, maybe not the flying machines. The first sister writes about politics and the third, Caro, writes poems. This story is about the middle sister, Anna, and she writes Gothic adventure stories under the pen name of Sir Sharpe Quill. These stories are over-the-top-melodramatic-harrowing adventures; which by the way, are also highly popular. But, you see she has a problem. Her deadline is looming and she's stumped as to where to take her characters next.

The premise of this story was pretty amusing. Anna is pulling her hair out trying to come up with "new" adventures for her characters Alessandro Crispini and Emmalina Smythe. I found the scenes where Anna and her sister, Caro, are expounding on what dangers they can put these people through very amusing. Caro was so funny in her exuberance that she almost stole the show. By the way, I chuckled over the name Crispini and the fact that Anna’s fictional heroine was an orphan. There was some pretty amusing insight into the writing of a gothic/romance book; I believe Ms. Elliott winked at us with some of it. Anyway, Anna’s profession leads to a rather comical misunderstanding between Anna and Devlin (mostly Devlin.) Anna is sneaking around doing covert things like looking at guns and hiding in dark places. Devlin on the other hand is investigating some kind of crime. He of course thinks Anna is up to no good, at least in the beginning. This had all the promise of being a screwball comedy, but it didn’t quite get there – too bad.

We were introduced to Anna and her antagonist, aka hero Devlin, in the last book, Scandalously Yours. They were the main reason I decided to continue with the series. They were such a delightfully argumentative couple and I wanted to see how they managed their own book. I'm delighted to say they managed pretty well! I enjoyed both Devlin and Anna. They both have secrets, they're both strong and their banter is amusing. While I found them enjoyable, their chemistry was uneven. One moment they are secluded in an alcove doing hand puppet tricks, and I mean really hot hand puppets. In this particular scene, the innocent heroine is reaching her hands down our hero's trousers for a grand adventure with Mr. Toad. Of course, Devlin has to return the favor. Then the next time we see Devlin and Anna it's as if nothing happened. Oh sure, Anna thinks about it for a while, but it doesn't seem to be the earth shattering moment it had to have been. She is/was a pretty wholesome girl after all. She should have pondered that moment longer than she did. And, as for the not-so-innocent Devlin - well - it did seem as if it was one of the best encounters he'd ever had (of course). The next day he had a bit of a detachment from Anna – it was bothersome. Because I felt as if Devlin was disconnected from Anna, so when the actual first bedding occurred, it was a tad bit jolting.

Secondary characters. There is/was a great set-up for the future story, Passionately Yours, which revolves around the youngest Sloane sister Caro. Caro was pretty funny - she's sooooo dramatic, she's quite the melodramatic queen and she hatesssss the obnoxious Lord McClellan. I'm really looking forward to their book. Keeping my fingers crossed. You just never know how a great secondary character is going to translate when they are given their own book. I'm also enjoying the relationship between the sisters. They get along and there's not an evil one in the group.

There is also a house party and a mystery to solve; the house party is fun, the mystery easy to solve. I spotted the villain right away, I just didn't want it to be that particular person.

Overall, this is an enjoyable book, a light read with an endearing couple. I would have given it a higher rating if Devlin had been connected just a little bit more with Anna.

Time/Place: Regency England/Scotland
Sensuality: Warm/Hot
KaysBlog

[Dottie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful enjoyable tale of subterfuge, sensuality, romance and love, all set in at a remote Scottish castle. Actually rated 4.5! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

Like her two sisters, Miss Anna Sloane has a passion for writing. Secretly, she is Sir Sharpe Quill, the author of wildly popular, racy, romance novels. But lately she has lost her inspiration and has had a restless longing for something which she cannot even put a name to. Outwardly, she gives the appearance of someone who would not dream of breaking the rules, but inwardly she is a very different person. The deadline for her latest book is rapidly approaching and she needs some peace and quiet to complete it. So when her mother announces that they will be attending a house party in the wilds of Scotland, Anna is all for it, despite her mother’s plans to hook her up with the prince, who is also attending the event. This time will not only give her some space to finish her book, it will also give her a chance to come to terms with the heated kiss she just shared with a scandalous marquess. So far, she has been content to experience adventure and passion with her characters on the written page, but after kissing Devlin, she is having second thoughts.

Devlin Greville, the Marquess of Davenport, better known as Devil Davenport, has a reputation for wenching, drinking and gaming, so when he finds himself unable to forget a kiss that left him feeling sparks, he is sure it is due to the drink he has just consumed. Women just do not have that effect on him. When he inherited the title, he also gained debts, but he continues to follow in his father’s footsteps. From time to time, he undertakes assignments for the government, which helps with his financial problems, although he does not use the money to repay his debts, but to finance his lifestyle. When he is offered an assignment to attend a house party and try to discover who is trying to kill a visiting prince, he is all too willing to accept. Not only will this give him some much needed cash, it will give him some distance to give him some perspective on his recent kiss with Anna Sloane.

Arriving at the house party, Devlin is shocked to discover that Anna is also present. To his dismay, he finds he has no choice but to look to her for assistance after receiving several mysterious threats at the remote Scottish castle. As they struggle with the desire between them, they must uncover the identity of who is trying to kill the prince before they become the next victims. Can they find the would-be killer before he strikes?

An intriguing tale, SINFULLY YOURS, the second book in author Cara Elliott’s THE HELLIONS OF HIGH STREET series, is a clever, passionate historical romance that will quickly sweep you up into the story. At first, I figured that Devlin and Anna could not be more different, but that is only on the outside. But as I continued to read, I found that is not the case. Inside, where it counts, they are made for each other. The chemistry between them is hot, the adventures are filled with suspense and their interaction is hilarious. The secondary characters also add a great deal of appeal and depth to the story.

Ms. Elliott has penned a truly delightful tale with this story, which is packed with suspense, danger, subterfuge, humor, surprising plot twists, sensual situations, romance and love, all set at a remote Scottish castle. After reading this novel I am eager to read the next installment in this series, PASSIONATELY YOURS, which is the story of Caro, Anna’s sister, who played a large part in this story also. Although SINFULLY YOURS can be read as a standalone, I am sure that, like me, you will not want to stop at just reading one of the HELLIONS OF HIGH STREET stories.

Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this story!
*ARC received for an honest opinion
original post on ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot and booknerdloleotodo.blgospot.com
I feel partly responsible for how the excellent this book turned out! I knew when I read “Scandously Yours (Hellions of High Stree #1)”I knew that the next book would be fantastic. I was hooked on the chemistry between Anna Sloane and Devlin, the Marquis of Davenport. I found them to be fun and witty. I loved their verbal barbs back and forth. They were so likeable as individual characters and as a couple. They had such fantastic chemistry that the pages sizzled, Sinfully Yours (Hellions of High Street #2) was sinfully fantastic!

Anna or as her readers know her ( Sir Sharpe Quill) secretly writes about heroes and heroines that fall in love and have great adventures. Except for her two sisters, all of society believes that Sir Sharpe Quill is a man. Anna’s characters are fun and vivacious, Anna’s art does not imitate life. Although she writes salacious novels she has very little personal experience. Anna is very proper and charming. She is very beautiful and knows how to convince society of who they want to think she is. Fortunately for her, since she received a nice dowry from her brother-in-law she does not have to worry about marrying for convenience. Anna is seen as a proper lady and acts accordingly, or does she?

Devlin reminded me of “Devil in Winter” by Lisa Kleypass, one of my all-time favorite historical romances. Devlin is your typical scoundrel. He does and says what he pleases and has a reputation in society for of drinking, gambling and womanizing as his heart desires. He makes no apologies to anyone for anything. All of society knows that he has a title but no fortune… or does he? Devlin was a fascinating character. He was intriguing, mysterious, adventurous and very surprising, with many different layers to him. I loved him! I found myself highlighting most of his dialogue. He traded barbs with anyone that crossed his path. He was so quick witted and so scandalous I laughed out loud with most of his conversations.

In London Devlin and Anna run into each other at different times. For Anna, he has proven to be a great distraction when she and her family are invited to Scotland for a visit she is eager for the change in scenery. She is hoping that she can get through her looming deadline for her next novel. As fate would have it, Devlin is called away to the same gathering for a special “mission”. The change of setting was so inviting and fun. I loved that the author changed it up and set the rest of the story in Scotland. When in Scotland we are introduced to some new and interesting characters. One is a Scottish baron, Alec McClellan who Caro, the youngest sister, seems to have a difference in opinion with quit often (I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they will be the next hero/heroin). Aside from the new cast of characters and setting we have a murder plot on our hands! It seems that there is a threat against a German Prince that is also in attendance. The plot was a great addition to the already blossoming romance between Devlin and Anna. As they work together to uncover who is behind the plot to murder the Prince, they get to really know each other and end up pleasantly surprised.

Cara Elliott has quickly become one of my newly discovered favorite authors. She is very engaging and easy to read. Her dialogue is fun and interesting. I love the relationship that the sisters share and the way that they are ahead of their time, thanks to their fathers influence on them. All sisters are very accomplished and talented. I enjoyed this story immensely, would recommend and re-read! Can’t wait for “Passionately Yours”.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC received for an honest review
I feel partly responsible for how the excellent this book turned out! I knew when I read “Scandously Yours (Hellions of High Street #1)”I knew that the next book would be fantastic. I was hooked on the chemistry between Anna Sloane and Devlin, the Marquis of Davenport. I found them to be fun and witty. I loved their verbal barbs back and forth. They were so likeable as individual characters and as a couple. They had such fantastic chemistry that the pages sizzled, Sinfully Yours (Hellions of High Street #2) was sinfully fantastic!

Anna or as her readers know her ( Sir Sharpe Quill) secretly writes about heroes and heroines that fall in love and have great adventures. Except for her two sisters, all of society believes that Sir Sharpe Quill is a man. Anna’s characters are fun and vivacious, Anna’s art does not imitate life. Although she writes salacious novels she has very little personal experience. Anna is very proper and charming. She is very beautiful and knows how to convince society of who they want to think she is. Fortunately for her, since she received a nice dowry from her brother-in-law she does not have to worry about marrying for convenience. Anna is seen as a proper lady and acts accordingly, or does she?

Devlin reminded me of “Devil in Winter” by Lisa Kleypass, one of my all-time favorite historical romances. Devlin is your typical scoundrel. He does and says what he pleases and has a reputation in society for of drinking, gambling and womanizing as his heart desires. He makes no apologies to anyone for anything. All of society knows that he has a title but no fortune… or does he? Devlin was a fascinating character. He was intriguing, mysterious, adventurous and very surprising, with many different layers to him. I loved him! I found myself highlighting most of his dialogue. He traded barbs with anyone that crossed his path. He was so quick witted and so scandalous I laughed out loud with most of his conversations.

In London Devlin and Anna run into each other at different times. For Anna, he has proven to be a great distraction when she and her family are invited to Scotland for a visit she is eager for the change in scenery. She is hoping that she can get through her looming deadline for her next novel. As fate would have it, Devlin is called away to the same gathering for a special “mission”. The change of setting was so inviting and fun. I loved that the author changed it up and set the rest of the story in Scotland. When in Scotland we are introduced to some new and interesting characters. One is a Scottish baron, Alec McClellan who Caro, the youngest sister, seems to have a difference in opinion with quit often (I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they will be the next hero/heroin). Aside from the new cast of characters and setting we have a murder plot on our hands! It seems that there is a threat against a German Prince that is also in attendance. The plot was a great addition to the already blossoming romance between Devlin and Anna. As they work together to uncover who is behind the plot to murder the Prince, they get to really know each other and end up pleasantly surprised.

Cara Elliott has quickly become one of my newly discovered favorite authors. She is very engaging and easy to read. Her dialogue is fun and interesting. I love the relationship that the sisters share and the way that they are ahead of their time, thanks to their fathers influence on them. All sisters are very accomplished and talented. I enjoyed this story immensely, would recommend and re-read! Can’t wait for “Passionately Yours”.

[Shauni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally Reviewed For: Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy

Sinfully Yours by Cara Elliott takes us back to those wonderful Hellions of High Street. I seriously love Ms Elliott and her refusal to allow her heroines to be witless. Nope these ladies are trend setters (even if society never knows it).. Sinfully Yours is the second in the Hellions of High Street Series Read my review of Scandalously Yours following the loves and lives of three rather unique sisters.

THE HELLIONS OF HIGH STREET SERIES CONTINUES WITH SINFULLY YOURS...

Proper young ladies of the ton-especially ones who have very small dowries-are not encouraged to have an interest in intellectual pursuits. Indeed, the only things they are encouraged to pursue are eligible bachelors. So, the headstrong Sloane sisters must keep their passions a secret. Ah, but secret passions are wont to lead a lady into trouble . . .

Anna Sloane is the prefect debutante.. pretty, witty and charming and now because of a generous brother in law.. well endowed. And I mean literally, her dowry is more than sufficient. No longer is she expected to save the family with an advantageous marriage. Now she can enjoy a season but more importantly work on her alter ego's career. Anna is the ton's favorite author, only they know her as Sir Sharpe Quill. Only her sisters know who she really is. Life should be good but it seems even Sir Sharpe Quill has deserted her and Anna finds herself becoming more and more enthralled with a man who surely can be no good for her.

Devlin, Marquess of Davenport, the oh so charming rogue without a serious bone in his body. Finds that even he can be distracted by Miss Anna Sloane. But she's not for him he needs to find a way to refill his depleted coffers. After generations of destroying them it's time someone found a way to make money. Devlin has an idea or two. One his secret hobby and two his secret career. Guess the Devil still has a secret or two up his sleeve. When he is asked by the Home Office to check out house party in Scotland to make sure that a Prince from Germany (one of the King's relatives) stays alive and well Devlin figures it's a win/win situation. One he can earn some money that will feed his hobby that might eventually fill his coffers. And two, he will get away from the ever delicious Miss Anna Stone. Except once he gets there, there she is. And somehow she has managed to make her way on to his list of suspects.

Seduction and Intrigue balance this book like Lady Justice's scales. Anna and Devlin are two sides of a sensual coin. Anna, the good girl who has secrets yearnings to be bad and Devlin well he just yearns. Together they embark on a mission to save the prince, avoid her matchmaking mama and find a way to stay clear of each other. Yeah.. that part's gonna be hard because sparks sizzle when these two connect.

There is feel to this book that works perfectly.. it's hard to explain because it's an intangible but the best I can do is to say it feels like it was written during the Regency era rather than about it. There is this joy and innocence in it that hides it's darker heart. Like society, we see only what we are intended to see. Rather well done of Ms. Elliott..

I am thoroughly enjoying this series and can't wait for our next installment!

Shauni

This review is based on the ARC of Sinfully Yours, provided by netgalley and is scheduled to be released on February 4, 2014

[Janell Sutherland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Regency novel, the second in a series about sisters who secretly have brains and use them to form opinions and write things, is about Anna and Devlin. Anna’s family was poor, and she was groomed to catch a rich man for a husband to save them all. Her manners are impeccable, her reputation is spotless, and her suitors are wealthy. However, in the previous book, her older sister landed a man of wealth and now Anna is off the hook.

At the beginning of the book, Anna is just beginning to wonder what she’s looking for, after all. She secretly writes a successful series of adventure novels under a male pen name, and she’d rather spend her time researching harrowing adventures and turning them into stories than participating in the social scene.

Lord Davenport, Devlin, is a rake. You know the sort — he’s got a bad reputation. He’s in the scandal sheets. Mothers warn their daughters away from him. He gambles, has affairs, and everyone conversing with him says things like, “By golly, Davenport, you’re such a rake! Your actions are so roguish! You are behaving quite as I’d expect from a devil such as you!” He’s also poor.

Anna and Devlin met in the previous book (which I haven’t read), so when they encounter each other at a ball, they don’t act like polite strangers. In fact, they end up alone on a balcony and Devlin kisses her, for no reason other than that he can. They are two enigmas, each with a secret. The book points out on multiple occasions that the two of them appear black and white, good and evil, angel and devil. Their journey to each other is also a journey toward a middle ground, a mixture of light and dark for each of them.

Most of the book takes place at a house party in Scotland, and it includes a bit of international intrigue, the kind that Anna writes about in her novels. I enjoyed the location, and I wasn’t overwhelmed by all of the guests at the house party. Anna is a fun, smart character, and so is her younger sister. Devlin is a sexy guy, but I felt that he relied on his reputation a little too much when interacting with others. “You know me, I’m a rake, you can’t expect me to be polite or anything.”

While the house party gives the characters a lot of time to have private moments, Anna and Devlin spend much of their time exchanging snappy arguments. It’s intellectual and amusing, although not necessarily romantic. My only problem with this book was that they would go from argumentative banter to steamy encounter, and then back to banter without really acknowledging the steamy encounter until the very end. I understood their growing intellectual attraction, but the bridge connecting that to their stolen kisses didn’t seem entirely there. However, I totally love how Devlin, when thinking of things he likes about Anna, lists her mind first, her smile second, and her body third.

The shenanigans were a bit of a stretch, but they did tie in with the type of novels that Anna writes so I give them a pass. The outer appearance versus inner secrets distinction was hammered in a few too many times, same with the Anna/Angel Devlin/Devil pairing. But overall, the book was fun and well-written. It includes the line, “One can never be bored with books as company,” which makes you think the author is One of Us, and that’s pretty cool.

Rating: B
This review was originally posted on Red Hot Books at: http://redhotbooks.com/2014/02/review...

[Amy Alvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed for: Historical Romance Lover blog

This is book 2 in the Hellions of High Street series.

Anna Sloane's mother is surprised to hear that she wants to go to the house party in Scotland. But what Anna's mother doesn't know is that she wants to spend the time working on her book and not looking for a titled husband. She has also got to get away from "Devil" Davenport as he is proving to be too distracting.

The ton thinks that the Marquess of Davenport, Devlin, is a penniless rake that doesn't have a kind bone in his body. What they don't know, is that he does missions for the government and his reputation helps him learn things he wouldn't have otherwise. His next mission is at a house party in Scotland. The government thinks that someone is going to kill a visiting prince.

Anna and Devlin are both surprised to see the other when they arrive at the house party. One reason both of them accepted the invitation was to get away from the other. They each feel as if they spend too much time preoccupied with the other.

With each on a mission of their own, much speculation ensues. Anna sees Devlin sneaking around where he shouldn't be right when some jewelry goes missing. Is he so desperate for money that he must revert to stealing to make ends meet? Devlin catches Anna sneaking away from where the guns are kept and the prince's gun explodes the next day. Is Anna in on the plot to kill the prince?

Will they learn the truth about each other and find a way to marital bliss?

I knew from reading Scandalously Yours (SY), that Anna and Devlin would be the next h/h (at least I hoped they would be). The chemistry they had with each other practically jumped off the page. We briefly saw a side of Devlin in that story that made me believe that he was not exactly whom we were lead to believe he was (great foreshadowing!) Sinfully Yours definitely lived up to all that I hoped it would be.

One of the things I loved about SY, was the relationship between the sisters. In Sinfully Yours, Elliot continues with this theme and does it masterfully. We only see two of the sisters during this story, but I hope that changes with the story of the youngest sister (I've got my fingers crossed about who she will be paired off with).

We have a pretty good understanding of who Anna is from SY, but she truly comes into her own with this novel. She has always been the perfect sister, the one her mother told the others to emulate. We finally see the person she has been hiding behind this facade. The adventuress person who will do what she has to do get what she wants.

Devlin on the other hand was just the opposite. Known as a rake and not good for much else, we see the side of him that he has kept hidden. It takes the love of Anna to get him to share this side of himself. With every bit of new information, I fell a little bit more in love with him!

I just can't say enough about this series. I LOVE IT!! This series is the only one that I've read from the author, but from these two books I will definitely be picking up her other series.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy of SINFULLY YOURS in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. This is the first book by Cara Elliott that I have read, but it will not be my last. I already went out to buy the first book in the series, SCANDALOUSLY YOURS, a few days ago, and I am eagerly anticipating the third book in the series, PASSIONATELY YOURS, to be released in about a month from now in paperback. I would highly recommend reading this book and this author if you are a fan of romance, but the book was not without some faults.

SINFULLY YOURS is the second book in The Hellions of High Street Series. It details the romance between the middle sister, Anna Sloane, and the notorious rake, Devlin Greville - the Marquess of Davenport. Other reviewers have given plot summaries of the book, so I will stick to giving my opinion on what I thought worked in the book and what I thought did not.

The first half of this book was a 5 star read for me; I loved it. However, as the story progressed, the book gradually became less original and was more of a 3 star read. The greatest appeal of this book was in the chemistry and spark in the dialogue between the hero and heroine during their early interactions. I greatly enjoyed their banter, and it was obvious from the get go that the attraction between the two ran deep. It was fun watching them get to know each other and discover each other's secrets. These are layered characters. I liked that both Anna and Devlin are more than they appear to be at first sight and that there is more to them than meets the eye. It was nice that Anna was smart as well as beautiful, and that the hero appreciated her for that fact. Devlin was a wonderful hero.

I also was intrigued with the interactions and sparring between Anna's younger sister, Caro, and Alec McClellan. They will be the hero and heroine in PASSIONATELY YOURS, and I cannot wait to read their book. You could feel the grudging attraction simmering beneath the surface of all their repartee. At times, they almost stole the spotlight from Anna and Devlin.

Now for the problems I had with this book. The ending felt too rushed. It would have benefited from having one more chapter of twenty pages or so to further resolve some of the relationship issues between Anna and Devlin. Everything in the last three or four chapters concerning their relationship happens very fast. Also, the mystery was unoriginal and you could see the "twist" coming from a mile away. Finally, the heroine's mindset and values did not really fit in a historical setting. She sleeps with the hero without first considering the consequences or even the possibility of pregnancy. The idea of being ruined does not faze her one bit. When the hero proposes doing the right thing for the time period and getting married, she does not even contemplate the idea at first because he does not tell her he loves her. This would be 100% okay in a contemporary romance, but it felt weird to read a historical where the heroine didn't consider her reputation at all.

[AnnMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sinfully Yours is the first book that I have read by the author Cara Elliot. I did enjoy it, but I am not sure that I would read another of her books.

This is the second book in the Hellions of High Street series. I haven't read book one, so I can report that Sinfully Yours can easily be read as a stand-alone book.

The story is about Anna, a woman happier writing romantic adventure books under a male pen name, than finding herself a husband and enjoying the London social life. She considers herself independent and happy with her life as it is. Her mother however wants her daughter to marry, and marry well, so accepts an invitation for them to a month long house party in Scotland. A party where a Prince will be in attendance. Anna decides she won't make a fuss about going because she hopes for a lot of peace and quiet so that she can complete her latest novel. Peace and quiet that she doesn't end up getting much of.

The hero of the stories is Devlin, he has a hard earned reputation of being a wicked devil who flaunts convention and hasn't a care in the world. It's not who he truly is, though, but that's a secret he wants to maintain. He and Anna previously met at a Ball, and although she is positive she can't abide him, she is obviously attracted to him against her will. He gets invited to the house party too and that is where the main story starts. Devlin and Anna are shocked to see each other but over time they see through each other’s public persona and they end up joining forces to solve a mystery which could prevent the assassination of the Prince.

To be honest, it took a lot of time for me to get into the story. When I read a book that I love I find it almost impossible to put down. With this book I could only read a few chapters at a time before I lost interest and put it down. The story line was good, and the way the author described the settings was very good, though I believe perhaps there was a bit too much description and not enough action. I like to read about what is going on rather than spend too much time too often hearing about the scenery etc. One very good thing was that I didn't have an idea of who the possible assassin was until perhaps the last 3 chapters, and even when the culprit was revealed I did enjoy learning why they thought they had to try to assassinate the Prince.

The only truly negative thing that I didn't like about the book was the use of the word 'bum'. I don't know if the word was used in those times, but in the instances that it was used in the book it would have been far more appropriate sounding for the word 'bottom' to be used.

For the storyline and the great characters in the story I will recommend this book. I just hope others will find the story flows easier for them than it did for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.