Two nobly born debutantes and their illegitimate sisters – a governess and an actress – compete for love while bringing to justice a handsome, dangerous traitor in these passionate, intrigue-filled Regency romances.HER GILDED PRISON ~ She was determined to secure the succession, he was in it for the pleasure. Falling in love was not part of the arrangement.When dashing twenty-five-year-old … arrangement.
When dashing twenty-five-year-old Stephen Cranbourne arrives at the estate he will one day inherit, it’s expected he will make a match with his beautiful second cousin, Araminta.
But while proud, fiery Araminta and her shy, plain sister, Hetty, parade their very different charms before him, it’s their mother, Sybil, a lonely and discarded wife, who evokes first his sympathy and then stokes his lustful fires.
As Stephen introduces Sybil to every pleasure she’s been deprived of, duty turns to a deep and mutual love. But with the unexpected arrival of a contender to the estate, Sybil realises that what she’s set in motion to save the family might have tragic consequences.
DANGEROUS GENTLEMEN ~ Shy, plain Hetty was the wallflower beneath his notice…until a terrible mistake has one dangerous, delicious rake believing she’s the “fair Cyprian” ordered for his pleasure.
Shy, self-effacing Henrietta knows her place—in her dazzling older sister’s shadow. She’s a little brown peahen to Araminta’s bird of paradise. But when Hetty mistakenly becomes embroiled in the Regency underworld, the innocent debutante finds herself shockingly compromised by the dashing, dangerous Sir Aubrey, the very gentleman her heart desires. And the man Araminta has in her cold, calculating sights.
Branded an enemy of the Crown, bitter over the loss of his wife, Sir Aubrey wants only to lose himself in the warm, willing body of the young “prostitute” Hetty. As he tutors her in the art of lovemaking, Aubrey is pleased to find Hetty not only an ardent student, but a bright, witty and charming companion.
Despite a spoiled Araminta plotting for a marriage offer and a powerful political enemy damaging his reputation, Aubrey may suffer the greatest betrayal at the hands of the little “concubine” who’s managed to breach the stony exterior of his heart.
THE MYSTERIOUS GOVERNESS ~ Lissa Hazlett lives life in the shadows. The beautiful, illegitimate daughter of Viscount Partington earns her living as an overworked governess while her vain and spoiled half-sister, Araminta, enjoys London’s social whirl as its most feted debutante.
When Lissa’s rare talent as a portraitist brings her unexpectedly into the bosom of society – and into the midst of a scandal involving Araminta and suspected English traitor Lord Debenham – she finds an unlikely ally: charming and besotted Ralph Tunley, Lord Debenham’s underpaid, enterprising secretary. Ralph can’t afford to leave the employ of the villainous viscount much less keep a wife but he can help Lissa cleverly navigate a perilous web of lies that will ensure everyone gets what they deserve.
Heat rate: medium to sizzling
What readers are saying about the series:
“These books are the best written time pieces I’ve ever read.”
“Lies, misdeeds, treachery, and romance. What an impressive story!”
“This book has it all: secrets, intrigue, murder and romance. I finished it in one sitting.”
♥♥♥ Step back in time for a Regency-era family saga with more intrigue than ’Dynasty‘ ♥♥♥
more
So good I bought the rest of the series after finishing the first 3.
Good book’s
Daughters of Sin books 1-3 – family saga re lovely and lonely Lady Sybil and her two daughters: vain and spoiled Araminta, who is determined to marry well at any cost, and sweet and innocent Hetty, who is desperate to find the love of her life
Her Gilded Person: Beautiful Arminta anticipates making a match with dashing 25-year-old Stephen, her second cousin. She is proud and fiery. Her sister, Hetty, is shy and plain. They parade their different charms before Stephen. Their lonely and discarded mother, Sybil, evokes first Stephen’s sympathy and then stokes his lustful fires. As Stephen introduces Sybil to every pleasure previously denied, duty turns into a deep and mutual love. A contender arrives at the estate, and Sybil realizes that what she set in motion to save the family may have tragic consequences. – This is a tangled web but most enjoyable. I loved Stephen. He is kind, honest, and loyal. Arminta was terrible, and I felt sorry for Hetty. I felt most sorry for Sybil. She was stuck in a bad situation. This interesting saga continues in the next two books.
Dangerous Gentlemen: When Hetty mistakenly becomes embroiled in the underworld, the innocent debutante finds herself shockingly compromised by the dashing and dangerous Sir Aubrey. He is the man her heart desires and the man her sister Araminta has in her cold, calculating sights. Aubrey wants only to lose himself in the warm willing body of “prostitute” Hetty. As he tutors her in the art of lovemaking, Aubrey is pleased to find Hetty an ardent student plus a bright, witty, and charming companion. Despite Araminta plotting for a marriage offer and a powerful political enemy damaging his reputation, Aubrey may suffer the greatest betrayal at the hands of Hetty. – Hetty is all about goodness. Araminta is totally selfish, manipulative, and dishonest. I liked Sir Anthony when he was with Hetty. I did not like that he spent so much time with Araminta. This would have been better if Araminta were not such a despicable character.
The Mysterious Governess: Lissa lives life in the shadows. The beautiful, illegitimate daughter of Viscount Partington earns her living as an overworked governess. Her vain and spoiled half-sister, Araminta, enjoys London’s social whirl as its most feted debutante. Lissa’s rare talent as a portraitist brings her unexpectedly into the bosom of society and into the midst of a scandal involving Araminta. Lissa finds an unlikely ally, Ralph Turney, a secretary to Lord Debenham who is involved with Araminta. Ralph helps Lissa navigate a web of lies. – This is interesting but a little disappointing. Lissa and Ralph’s story was not finalized, and the characters from the previous books were not
Very clever scenarios!
Very enjoyable book series.
Despite reading the three books in this set with an embedded story that is completed by the fifth book, I have no desire to read the last two books. I don’t really care about the characters and I can pretty much guess what might happen.
I was also bothered by some editing oversights–references to the wrong character. That is something that should be caught by an editor before publication.