TEST
There’s a lot to like in Duchess of Sin: The setting. The historical context. And the hero’s sketchy cousin, who will be featured in the next book. That’s all good. The rest isn’t bad, but it’s nothing to write home about, and, unfortunately, that includes the main couple.
Anna Blacknall is, apparently, the wild and mischievous middle Blacknall sister. On one of her escapades Anna comes across Conlan McTeer, the rebel Irish duke with whom she apparently shares a past. As they continually cross each others’ paths, Anna becomes entangled in Conlan’s political manoeuvres to free Ireland, falls in love with him, and gets caught up in someone’s apparent scheme to murder him.
That’s a lot of “apparent” information, and for someone who hasn’t read the previous book, it meant an uneven read. I don’t buy Anna’s supposed wild character as written here, but maybe it would clearer if I had read the first book. The circumstances surrounding her and Conlan’s connection could be described more clearly – but again, they wouldn’t need to be so clear if I’d read the first book. And so on and so forth. All these mysteries threw the book slightly out of kilter, as if I saw a movie through a gauze curtain. It doesn’t help that I found Conlan a tad washed out, and Anna a tad uninteresting.
However, in the spirit of positivity, I will say that I’m being very nitpicky, and that the rest of the book edges out the disadvantages towards a qualified recommendation. The setting and details are a revelation, and Ms. McKee (aka Amanda McCabe) continues her predilection for non-Regency settings, this time heading to 1799 Ireland before the country was finally swallowed up by the English. Ms. McKee carries us from Irish estates to the docksides to high society, and does so with good old storytelling.
If the author had applied the same specificity to her main characters as to her setting, I would be a lot more enthusiastic. But I was never confused, only mystified, and sufficiently engaged. And the setting is definitely a winner. I can go with that.
Grade: B-
Book Type: European Historical Romance
Sensuality: Hot
Review Date: 06/01/11
Publication Date: 2010/12
I live in Seattle, Washington and work as a legal assistant. I remember learning to read (comic strips) at a young age and nowadays try to read about 5-6 books a week. I love to travel, especially to Europe, and enjoy exploring smaller towns off the tourist track though London is my favorite city in the world.
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.