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Sweetest Little Sin
Author: Christine Wells
Publisher: Berkley
Pub. Date: May 4, 2010
ISBN-13: 978-0425234808
Retail: $7.99
304 pages

A Marquis’ Betrayal

Lady Louisa Brooke has many suitors, but the only man for her is the wild and ruthless Marquis of Jardine. When Jardine suddenly abandons her after a long-standing liaison, he leaves her with nothing except the secret they share. Her future in ruins, Louisa recklessly accepts a mission from the head of the secret service and becomes embroiled in a perilous operation in which nothing is as it seems…

A Lady’s Revenge

The Marquis of Jardine is determined to destroy the criminal mastermind who’s sworn vengeance against all he holds dear. But when he hears that Louisa is to wed a dangerous enemy, Jardine is tortured by jealousy and fear for her safety. He tracks her down, only to discover that her mission collides with his. A Love that Won’t Be Denied Together, Louisa and Jardine must now foil a plan to betray the secret service and escape a diabolical revenge. But can they put the past behind them, and take the greatest risk of all–on love?

~*~*~

Sweetest Little Sin, like any other Christine Wells book, is a guilty pleasure for any historical romance fan.

I looked forward to reading the sequel to Christine Wells’ Wicked Little Game. Though Wells had set the bar high, I was not disappointed by Sweetest Little Sin. Everything I loved about the prequel to this story is carried over into Sweetest Little Sin—suspense, intrigue, danger, sizzling sensuality and, to my delight, the mysterious character of the Marquis of Jardine.

Sweetest Little Sin is crafted with smart prose and a page-turning plotline. The story didn’t hook me until the end of chapter two. From then on out, I went eagerly along for the ride. Sweetest Little Sin takes place mostly in the English countryside. In some places I found the scenes a bit too quick to change, the breaks and POV changes a bit choppy but this was forgotten once the action of the story really picked up. I was slow to warm up to the heroine, Lady Louisa Brooke. On the other hand, Jardine—a clandestine spy for the English Home Office on a vengeful mission—enchanted me from the first. He has long loved Louisa but because of his job he refuses to publicly associate himself with her to keep her safe from his enemies. This creates a great deal of inner conflict:

They’d never had leisure for slow exploration, had they? Everything was always rushed, explosive. Exciting, but ultimately not enough.

The longing to see her in his bed, in his home, pulled at him so strongly, the temptation to forget this whole business and steal her away almost gained the upper hand over duty.

But he was doing all this so they could have that leisure, grow old together, wasn’t he? After all these years of hiding their association, of being hunter and prey, such an existence seemed as distant and unattainable as a mirage.

The lengths to which Jardine goes to protect Louisa are utterly heroic. His character was my favorite of the book. Louisa is crafted with both vulnerability and strength. Once her strength begins to override her vulnerability, her character becomes even more compelling. She throws caution to the wind to prove to Jardine that she can handle the dangerous life of a spy’s wife and prove to herself that she is worthy of him.

Wells is a unique voice in the historical genre, one that I always enjoy. She also weaves sensuality and romance well into a suspenseful plotline. The simmering heat between Jardine and Louisa fuels the story forward and the love scenes were simply delicious. Above all, my favorite element of Sweetest Little Sin was the romance:

“I love you, Jardine.” In her voice there was mettle and terror and a distinct challenge. “Don’t you dare get yourself killed.”

He gathered her to him and kissed her, and the kiss was hard and fierce and strong, everything they were together. His heart burned in his chest, a fiery agony, a glory that transcended life and death. There was no term in any lexicon for what he felt. Love was too tepid a word. Ah, Louisa. You shouldn’t love me. Look where it brought you.

I ached for their situation and cheered their final redemption. In the end, I enjoyed a great deal and cannot wait to read more of Wells’ backlist. Recommended.

Rating: 7 (Good)

Heat-Level: 4 (Hot)

7historicals
By Berkley, Giveaways, Reviews46 Comments on Review: Sweetest Little Sin

46 Replies to “Review: Sweetest Little Sin”

  1. Another GREAT looking book.

    I really believe that you are trying to put our TBR piles (or in my case MOUNTAIN) through the roof.!!

  3. This sounds really good I never read her books before I am going to now, thanks for the review here
    Penney

  4. I have been waiting sooo long for Louisa & Jardin’s story! Yay! It’s finally here. Can’t wait to get my hands on it!

    Thanks for the review. I had no doubts about it!

  5. Thanks for the review of this new to me author. I love the premise of this book.
    Love & Hugs,
    Pam

  6. I love the premise of Sweetest Little Sin – it sounds like a wonderful story.

  7. Sound like a good book and I am definitely a historical romance fan.

  9. Read The Dangerous Duke before Sweetest Little Sin. It takes places a few months (maybe weeks) before SLS. And you’ll meet Louisa’s brother Max. He has a love/hate–more hate relationship with Jardine. Jardine and Louisa are significant secondary characters in the story.

    I loved SLS–I would love the author to reveal some scenes–if she has any–from the very beginning of Louisa & Jardine’s relationship (don’t want to go into spoiler territory).

  13. I love that with most novels the women are loved by many but only want one. 🙂 I look forward to reading this book.

    Lovely review by the way!

  14. Thank you for such a wonderful review. I haven’t read a book by Christine Wells before but I have heard such wonderful things that I would love to read Sweetest Little Sin.

  15. My TBR pile just keeps getting bigger. I can’t wait to read this. Great review!

  16. Sounds like another great read. Love the cover. Have not read this author yet. Wonderful review.

  19. I’d love to read this. I love Regencies with a strong and intense romance in them.

  22. Nice review Amber. I’ve not read this author before and would love to read this.

  23. I do so love spy stories. They open the door for great suspense, intrigue, dangerous situations, misunderstandings, and heartbreak. What more could a reader want? Romance, but that is a given here.
    Thanks for the review. I look forward to reading this book. It sounds like I will have to start looking for her older books, too.

  25. i’ve been eyeing this book for quite some times… Count me in ! i would love to have the book 🙂

  26. Loved Christine’s previous books and look forward to “Sweetest Little Sin.”

  27. Oh, this looks good. I have to stop checking this site or my book budget will continue to be out of control!

  28. Looks like another great book and I’d love to be entered in your drawing!!! Great review!!!

    mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

  32. I loved this book actually I have loved all of Christines’s book they really are great reads. I would highly recomend them all

    Have Fun
    Helen

  33. From the minute I finished reading The Dangerous Duke, I started begging for Louisa and Jardine’s story. I’m happy to say it met all my expectations…and then some! Christine Wells is an auto-buy for me!

  34. I love this review. It makes the book sound so enticing! Looking forward to reading it. It’s definitely on my list, now!

  36. This book looks really good, I love books in which the hero has loved the heroine for a long time!
    Thanks for the great review Amber! 🙂

  39. I’ve never read Christine Wells before, but I definitely plan to now! Sounds great!

  40. Going to have to add this one to the TBR pile and groan I want that gown.

  41. Great cover and love the review too. Can’t wait to read this latest by Christine Wells. Count me in the draw please!

  42. Love spies and danger and romance all together. Sounds like a wonderful mix.

  43. Ahhh tortured hero! Who could resist that? Great review, Amber.
    Also, I think Christine Wells is fantastic 🙂 I’d love to win this book.

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