FINAL DECISION: I really enjoyed this book because it operates as an epilogue to the series. After all the drama in the books in the series, it was nice seeing everyone happy. The romance in this story was really straightforward. None of these books is particularly deep and complicated, but this was a nice one time read.

THE STORY: The Sinners and their wives and children gather for Christmas, but echoes from the past threaten their happiness. One woman, insignificant and overlooked in the treason story has the possibility of finding happiness, but she has a secret.  The man she meets also has a secret.

OPINION: Some books are keepers and some books are a fine read that I put down and never expect to pick up again. This is the latter type of book. I enjoyed it as a diversion for an hour or two. The characters were interesting enough and the story flowed well.

Nothing in the story is particularly deep and there isn’t much historical content, but I liked seeing these characters and I especially liked seeing the characters from the series again with their children.

This is an easy read with more conventional sexual content than has been in much of the books in the series. And I liked the characters because everything isn’t titled. The secrets that are being kept perhaps were a bit obvious by the end, but I liked how everything turned out.

WORTH MENTIONING: By the end of this story, we get an update on every couple from the Regency Sinners series.

CONNECTED BOOKS: WICKED CHRISTMAS is the eighth book in the Regency Sinners series. While there is a romance here that is self-contained, the book serves as a conclusion to the Regency Sinners series and an update on the couples from that series. Therefore, this book is better read after the others in the series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

FINAL DECISION: My favorite of the series, this one works because of the existing relationship between the characters and the development of the heroine, which I enjoyed very much.

THE STORY: Dominik Sinclair, Duke of Stonewell and spymaster, has run out of suspects. In searching for the traitor, there is only one woman left — his wife. Now he has returned to his estate to accuse his wife and find out her secrets. Angelique has known something is wrong as Nik has become distant in recent months. Now he demands her surrender to his passions and his suspicions.

OPINION: I really enjoyed this one. Nothing is too deep, but because the characters have a pre-existing relationship, things are more focused emotionally. The two have an adventurous sexual relationship. While the important moments in their relationship are explored through their sexual moments, this works better between the married couple.

Nik’s suspicion of Angelique is in conflict of his feelings for her. (I do have to wonder about a spymaster who has so much that is happening without his knowledge). Angelique won’t allow Nik to get away easy with his distrust. The power dynamic between these two was interesting in this book.

While short in length of the story, this couple worked the best for me. I liked their interactions and how the storyline helps develop their relationship.  The story isn’t a particularly deep one, but for someone who spent much of my early romance reading days devouring category romances, this one fits right in (if a lot more explicit in its sex scenes).

WORTH MENTIONING: There is going to be another wrap up book with all the characters from the series. Since we don’t get to see the characters together enough, I’m happy for this.

CONNECTED BOOKS: WICKED SINNER is the seventh book in the Regency Sinner series. This romance is self-contained but there is an overarching storyline that runs through the series about a traitor. This book resolves that storyline.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

FINAL DECISION: Completely unrealistic but hot romance. I wanted more character development rather than sexual escapades.

THE STORY: Lord Titus Covington, Viscount Romney and his friend were assigned the job of investigating the Germaine twins to determine if one of them is the traitor that the “Sinners” are seeking. When the traitor orchestrates a carriage accident killing Titus’s friend and Lady Prudence Germaine’s twin sister, Prudence blames Titus. But Titus needs to clear Lady Prudence so he is insistent on getting closer to her — of course, he also is attracted to her as well.

OPINION: This book follows the formulas of the prior books in the series. This book, however, didn’t have a strong couple at its center. I never really got the connection between Titus and Prudence since their beginning happens before this book begins. The pace of their relationship is really quick as they fall into serious sexual escapades without any prelude. I also didn’t buy that this innocent would be traipsing around London alone allowing her to meet with Titus.

For me, there was too much sex and not enough character development. The book is hot but I think that was a substitute for the characters having any real depth.

The overarching story also doesn’t move very much here as this book is really just setting up the final book in the series.

WORTH MENTIONING: I am totally on board for the final book in the series. I didn’t see the setup coming.

CONNECTED BOOKS: WICKED TEMPTATION is the sixth book in the Regency Sinners series. This book can be read as a standalone as it summarizes everything a reader needs to know. Readers should be aware, however, that there is an overarching storyline this is not resolved in this book.

STAR RATING: I give this book 2.5 stars.

FINAL DECISION: Okay but not extraordinary. It added to the storyline in the entire series, but the relationship part didn’t work for me as well. The connection wasn’t as strong.

THE STORY: Jericho Black, Marquis of Wessex, is up for his investigation of a potential traitor. His target is his ward Lady Jocelyn Forbes. Jocey has just returned from France (which is one reason she is a suspect) and is pleased that Jericho is taking more of an interest in her because she had been attracted to him since Jericho took over her guardianship when she was eighteen.  Jericho’s problem is that his first sight of Jocey in months has him staggered to realize what a beautiful woman she has become.

OPINION: I wanted to like this one more than I did. The guardian/ward story had interesting possibilities. I also liked the characters: Jericho with his world weary attitude that is taken by Jocey’s light and joy; Jocey with her determination and caring for others.

The execution of the story, however, had elements that bothered me. The strongest one was that Jericho knew Jocey. If we had picked up the story when Jericho hadn’t spent time with Jocey, his mistrust and anger towards her might have worked. But here it seems clear that he knows her enough that he shouldn’t be so distrustful.

My other complaint is that while the two engage in various sexual activities, I wanted there to be some culmination to their relationship. It appears that happens totally off screen at the end which was disappointing.

WORTH MENTIONING: Now I really want to know about the woman that Stonewall is going to investigate.

CONNECTED BOOKS: WICKED CAPTIVE is the fifth book in the Regency Sinners series. The book is a standalone although there is a continuing story line about a woman who is a traitor and the men trying to find her.

STAR RATING: I give this book 2.5 stars.

FINAL DECISION: I didn’t think much of the story as it started, but the relationship between the hero and heroine as the story progressed made me enjoy the story quite a bit. This is a simple easy story and certainly not a complex drama, but it was enjoyable nonetheless.

THE STORY: Maximillian Smythe, Earl of Carlton is taking his turn searching for the traitor that the eight Sinners are searching for. The woman he is to investigate is his own stepmother Heather. The young and beautiful second wife to his father. Six years ago Maxim and Heather had a whirlwind romance before Maxim left to spy for the Crown and returned to find Heather married to his father. Now Maxim must determine what Heather is hiding.

OPINION: The story line here is not surprising and almost everything is quickly disclosed to the reader (if not to the characters). A second chance at love for these two characters complicated by deceptions and lies and misunderstandings.

The story and the characters are not particularly deep, but sometimes an uncomplicated story makes a nice easy read. The characters were not stupid despite their misunderstandings and I liked that they quickly were able to unravel the secrets between them.

I liked Maxim as a character and thought that his darkness was actually what made the story interesting. This book reminds me of the category romances in the past (although more erotic and explicit) because of the simplicity of the story.

WORTH MENTIONING: This is a novella.

CONNECTED BOOKS: WICKED DECEPTION is the fourth book in the Regency Sinners series. This is a series of books with the overarching storyline of the search for a woman traitor. While there is some connection between the books, this book can certainly be read as a standalone.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

FINAL DECISION: This is really just a little erotic romance rather than focusing on any particular plot. I enjoyed this quick and dirty little story. It is not a deep read, but certainly enjoyable.

THE STORY: Sebastian Trentham, Marquis of Deveril aka Devil, is investigating Alys Newcomb to see if she is a spy. The two have a complicated history as Alys believes that Devil murdered her father as she found him holding a gun and standing over his dead body. Alys says she doesn’t want anything to do with Devil but when her brother invites him to his houseparty, she is forced into close proximity and the intense passion between Alys and Devil explodes.

OPINION: This is really focused on the sexual relationship between Sebastian and Alys. There is a story, but the details are put aside in service to the sexual antics of the hero and heroine. That doesn’t bother me, but a reader should know that this isn’t a historical focused on accurate details and the minutia of social conventions. Instead, the plot, time and place are a stepping off point for the relationship between Sebastian and Alys.

So while there is a story about the murder of Alys’s father and the search for the female spy, the relationship between the characters is the real focus. So don’t be surprised if Alys quickly puts aside her suspicions about Sebastian to engage in various sexual encounters. And don’t look to historical accuracy when the two are running around engaging in erotic adventurers seemingly without any concern about social reputations or mores.

But I did enjoy this story. I know the limitation for these stories and they are shallow, fun reads rather than intense dark ones. The story is hot and these two manage to work through their problems in an efficient manner.

WORTH MENTIONING: I also think we have likely been introduced to the next hero, the Earl of Carlton.

CONNECTED BOOKS: WICKED SCANDAL is the third book in the Regency Sinners series. Each story stands on its own with a loose overarching storyline of each man being sent to investigate one woman in order to discover which of them is the spy the men are looking for.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.

FINAL DECISION:  Enjoyable and quick read. Very sexy historical that is a second chance at love as well.  This one has a lot of drama and tension as two people who have a history try to work through their past while the hero is trying to see if the heroine is a traitor.

THE STORY:  Dante St. Just, Duke of Huntley has the woman assigned for him to investigate…but he doesn’t want to.  Lady Isabella Aston is the step-daughter of his cousin and the two have a history.  When Bella was seventeen, she declared her love for Dante, who rejected her sending her into the arms of and marriage to another man.  Now a widow, Bella doesn’t anything to do with Dante…but he has never forgotten her.

OPINION: Light and enjoyable story…not funny or sweet, but the story is not taxing and can be enjoyed quickly.  This book continues the series about these men who are investigating women who might be a traitor helping Napoleon.

There is more angst in this story because Dante and Bella have a history.  I liked their interaction and the drama and pain between them.  I also really liked that Bella had a happy marriage that Dante now has to compete with.

The two have a very contentious beginning but I really liked how the two battled and debated and ultimately resolved their problems.  The story isn’t particularly deep, but this is not trying to be War and Peace.

My one complaint about this book is that there is a whole side story about the reasons that Dante’s aunt was such a witch. I’m not sure that the resolution was needed and thought that it brought up a plot point that was not really necessary.

WORTH MENTIONING:  We are introduced to Devil in this book…the hero of the next book.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  WICKED SURRENDER is the second book in the Regency Sinners series.  There is an overarching story as each of the book involves a man investigating a woman as possible spy, but each book is independent and can be read on its own as the overarching storyline is thin.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 3.5 stars.

FINAL DECISION:  Very sexy and sex filled novella introduction to a new series.  Although the relationship develops really quickly, I enjoyed the interaction between these two characters.

THE STORY:  Darius Strong, Duke of Wolferton, has come to investigate Lady Beatrix Hanwell as a possible French spy.  He was unhappy to have chosen her from the hat of names because he knows that he will likely have to seduce her and Beatrix is plain and ordinary.  Bea has no illusions about her attributes and that is why she is shocked when Darius invites himself to her house party.  She is even more shocked when he announces his intention to seduce her.  An unhappy marriage left Bea determined to be alone, but Darius tempts the widow.

OPINION:  This series has an intriguing premise.  Eight men matched by drawing names from a hat with eight women — one of whom is a traitor.  Each of the men must do whatever it takes to determine the guilt or innocence of the woman he is charged with investigating.

In this novella, we are introduced to Darius and Bea.  These two have no history and Darius is incredibly dismissive of Bea because of her looks.  Of course, his pretense of being interested in Bea quickly turns to intense desire.  They also end up having past abuse in common.  I really enjoyed their interactions as Bea struggles with her intense attraction to Darius but wants to maintain her independence after her miserable marriage.

Bea is opinionated and unwilling to submit to Darius’s demands.  She meets him as an equal.  This book is packed with sexual exploits but I enjoyed the banter between Bea and Darius the most.  Bea is no shrinking violet and although Darius is a dominant alpha male, Bea makes sure that she meets his as an equal.

I enjoyed this novella and look forward to the rest of the series.

WORTH MENTIONING:  This book is hot, hot, hot and edges toward erotica.  It is short novella with many sexual encounters between the hero and heroine.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  WICKED TORMENT is the first book in the Regency Sinners series.  The overarching story is about 8 men investigating 8 women one of whom is a spy for Napoleon.  So the stories are independent of one another with one overarching story.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4 stars.