Series: Sin and Sensibility (Book 3)
The youngest of four spirited American sisters, Sarah
Bumgarten has studiously avoided her mother's attempts to find her a titled
husband among London's aristocracy. Now, after an earl's very public rejection,
it seems her ideal mate will be anyone but a duke, a marquis, a baron, or a
viscount . . .
Thankfully, there are no noblemen in sight at Betancourt,
the country estate where Sarah takes refuge. Its rightful owner, the Duke of
Meridian, sibling to Sarah's brother-in-law, has been absent for years.
Accompanied by her bevy of beloved animals, Sarah delights in refurbishing the
once-grand property. But even a self-assured frontier heiress needs help when
greedy tenants are threatened by her presence . . .
Out of nowhere, a stranger jumps into the fray when
ruffians attack. Nothing about "Art," the roguish interloper - now
recuperating in the ducal bedchamber - smacks of nobility, with his brazen
sensuality, worldly knowledge, and deeply seductive voice. Yet could he be the
errant duke? If so, Sarah soon realizes this homecoming promises to be filled with
unexpected challenges and passionate possibilities . . .
Very good conclusion to the trilogy. The youngest of the
sisters, Sarah, is the last one unmarried. Her mother has tried hard to find a
titled husband for Sarah, and just when it looks like she has succeeded,
disaster strikes. The earl that Sarah had believed was her future mate returned
to London after a trip with a fiancée. After such public humiliation, Sarah retreated
to Betancourt, one of her brother-in-law's family properties. There she cheers
herself up by setting the neglected property to rights and spending time with
her assortment of critters. But trouble is brewing as a group of ruffians cause
problems for town and estate. A handsome
stranger steps in when Sarah and one of her dogs are attacked, and later shows
up wounded for Sarah to nurse back to health.
Arthur showed up in town with little except the clothes
on his back. He had left home heartbroken, determined to spend some time learning
about himself and seeing some of the world. He got more than he bargained for, and
it has changed him from the heedless young lord he used to be. After years
away, he is wary of his welcome and chooses to conceal his identity until he
gets the lay of the land.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between
Sarah and Arthur. It is a wary one at first, with Sarah unsure if he can be
trusted and Arthur questioning what Sarah is up to. It was fun to see his
reactions to her activities, from riding to shooting. It also didn't take him
long to appreciate what she has done for his home and his people. I also
enjoyed seeing the sparks that flew between them, as attraction flared. Arthur
also suffers a little jealousy when his cousin shows up, claiming to be worried
about Sarah being alone and unprotected. It's this reaction that ultimately
motivates Arthur to reveal his identity and take his place as the duke.
One of the things I enjoyed most was seeing the influence
that Sarah had on Arthur. It was watching her interact with his tenants and
neighbors that showed him how to regain his place. I loved watching them work
together, and in the process, get to know each other. It wasn't all smooth
sailing, as Arthur isn't exactly smooth in communicating his feelings, leaving
room for misinterpretation. Sarah also suffers from a bit of insecurity,
knowing that Arthur had initially been engaged to her sister and believing that
he still cares for her. As various people from Arthur's past show up, Sarah learns
more about what Arthur has been through, and falls more deeply for him. I laughed
out loud when Arthur's brother, Ashton, shows up and they go from tears of joy
at being reunited to pounding on each other because of other things. Once the
air is cleared, they can move on to other things.
Matters are further complicated by the continuing attacks
that the estate suffers. The reader is well aware of who is behind the attacks
and why, but the residents have their work cut out for them. The attacks
escalate in intensity, and Arthur and the others are hard-pressed to protect
the people and the land. Matters come to a head when the culprit goes after
Sarah and loses control of his ruffians. There were definitely some nail-biting
moments in the barn. I liked how the bad guy got his comeuppance - it was a
very satisfying case of karma. I also had to laugh out loud as the men arrived
back at the house, only to discover that the ruffians were already vanquished.
The ending was fun as Arthur received a whole bunch of
unsolicited advice on how to proceed with Sarah. I have to admit that I felt a
little sorry for the poor guy, but he did manage to come through it successfully.
The epilogue was especially grand, and I loved the unexpected encounter at
Ascot. It was another well-deserved example of reaping what you sow.
Though I haven't read the first book in the series (yet),
where the trouble with Arthur and Ashton began, there was enough background
provided that I never felt lost. However, I will go back and read that book
soon. I'm looking forward to the author's next book, though I believe it will
be a while before it comes out.
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