#BookReview – ‘Sinful Confessions’ by Samantha Holt

Blurb

Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride. The Cynfell brothers are the very embodiment of a sinful existence. But could the right woman change that? 

Wrath 

Locked behind the walls of Lockwood Manor, Julian Cynfell, the Marquess of Lockwood whiles away his days writing angry letters, drinking and sleeping. He never expects his solitude to be interrupted by a brazen American heiress. 

An American heiress who is expecting a wedding. 

Viola Thompson can’t believe her luck when the English lord she has been corresponding with for the better part of a year asks her to visit him. This has to mean an offer of marriage surely? Finally, Viola will prove to her family and friends that she is more than a ruined woman with no prospects. Not to mention she knows they will be a love match. No one could write such beautiful letters without being the perfect man. 

But when she arrives in cold, dreary England to be faced by a foul-tempered, grizzled—albeit in a handsome way—marquess, her dreams of marriage are quickly dashed. Can she draw the lord out of his melancholy ways? And does she even want to remain in England while rumours of three dead wives circulate around Lockwood? 

One thing is for certain, this American heiress has never been one to back down from a challenge—especially when not even the Atlantic Ocean could dampen the patent desire running between them. 

Review

The year is 1895. Viola is a brassy, strong-willed American and travels to England all by herself in order to meet the nobleman she’s been corresponding with via mail for the past six months. She’s fallen half in love with the charming marquis and plans to accept his marriage proposal. The man she officially meets, however, is nothing like the man in the letter. And she soon learns he didn’t propose to her.

Julian, Marquis of Lockwood, is a grumpy, temperamental recluse after the deaths of his three wives. The gossipy townsfolk believe he’s cursed, and he thinks this as well. He never expected the woman he’s been sending letters to would come to England, and though he knows he should send her away for both her safety from him and to protect her reputation, he just can’t do it. Like Viola, he’s fallen for her, too, but does not intend to honor his heart.

This is a beautiful love story. Julian’s fear of himself and his shame of losing each woman he had promised to take care of will clench your heart in a vise. He’s such a hurt, stubborn man, and he needed a strong woman to help him break from his shell. Viola has her own problems and past shames, but Julian didn’t mind. They both needed each other and found a love match.

Though this is a novella that focused just on the H/h, I really wish I could’ve met one or more of Julian’s younger brothers. I definitely didn’t like his haughty mother and wished I could’ve seen Julian put her in her place, instead of just being told he did so. The servants in the household were kind, decent and loyal, and I really liked their interactions with both Viola and Julian.

Written in British English, all POV shifts had proper scene/chapter breaks, and I don’t think I noticed any typos. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and would love to read more stories in the Cynfell Brothers series.

4 Stars

Disclaimer – I downloaded this book from Amazon and volunteered to review it. I am not compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.