I’m ready to lie, cheat and steal to get the evidence I need to save my father. Evidence I believe Savannah O’Neill is hiding behind the crumbling walls of her mansion and her cold untouched beauty. So, I pretend to be the broke handyman she needs in order to get close to her. But I never expected Savannah to be so…vulnerable and sweet. Or the chemistry between us to be so hot. I use both to …
I use both to seduce her secrets from her. And soon it’s my heart that’s in jeopardy.
When all my sins are revealed is the damage I’ve done to Savannah’s heart too much to be repaired?
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Nice predictable read. Hurt and left by so many people she is guards her heart tightly. The new handyman is not what he seems but it all works out for the two of them.
ARC for honest review with no compensation 4.5 stars
The Sinner is book 1 in the Notorious series by Molly O’Keefe and what a great start to this series!
Matt Howe (Wood) comes to Bonne Terre looking for his dad’s accomplices and the missing jewels from a Las Vegas heist years before but what he finds is more secrets, suspense, hidden identity, chemistry with Savannah O’Neill hoping to make friends with Maggie, Savannah’s daughter and so much more.
Can’t wait or the next book in this series…
What a beautiful story filled with so much emotion. Molly O’Keefe’s heartfelt writing makes you feel everything in this story.
Savannah has been through a lot and has been hurt over and over again. She doesn’t trust, she doesn’t enjoy life. When Matt shows up on their doorstep a flicker of light shines in that walled off heart of hers.
Matt makes us skeptical at first. We know he has a secret but what is it? As his truths are revealed and his walls crumble, we are shown what a truly remarkable man he is. He’s tortured by events of his past and he’s on a mission, but maybe that mission isn’t so important anymore.
Savannah and Matt open each other’s eyes to so many truths. They help each other heal and it’s beautiful. Katie is such a joy and light through this entire story. She makes you smile and warms your heart. Grandma Margot is such a blessing and the way she loves and takes care of Savannah and Katie is so touching, their bond beautiful. Molly O’Keefe gives us such a wonderful cast of characters.
This a heartwarming story that leaves you smiling. I can’t wait to read Tyler’s story.
What a great and well written story. I loved Matt and Savannah’s on again off again heated journey.
A cast of delightful characters enhance the fabric of this mystery romance.
Looking forward to the next in the series, The Gambler!
Loved Matt and Savannah’s story. Matt is willing to do whatever it takes to save his father … but he wasn’t expecting Savannah. Sweet and hot, a great series opener.
Savannah and Matt’s story in The Sinner by Molly O’Keefe, book one in her Notorious series, was an emotional and enjoyable tale that entangles many secrets. Matt is on a mission to find the evidence to save his father. He believes it Savannah has knowledge of the evidence and is determined to break her to get it; pretending to be the handyman she needs in order to get to know her. Savannah is not what Matt expected; vulnerable, sweet, insecure, cold, yet beautiful. Their off the charts chemistry could provide the electricity for the crumbling mansion where the O’Neills live. As their attraction controls them, secrets end up being shared; putting both their hearts in jeopardy of being broken. Hopefully Matt and Savannah’s are strong enough to overcome the damage done by each other and their fears to discover that taking a chance on love just might be the best thing in life.
Ms. O’Keefe wrote a “can’t put down,” emotional story that should not be missed. This tale abounds with emotions, off the chart chemistry, wonderful dialogue, and endearing characters giving Savannah and Matt a chance at love and a forever together. I highly recommend The Sinner to other readers and look forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
This is the first book in a new series by Molly O’Keefe that focuses on the infamous O’Neil family. I’m not entirely sure what the O’Neil family has done to become such a subject of attention.
Matt is looking for revenge. His father is in prison for a Vegas jewel heist. Matt is angry that his father’s partners in crime avoided jail and got away with the jewels. He comes to Louisiana undercover and pretends to be a handyman so he can find the jewels and ferret out the truth. He takes a job at The Manor where he targets the mysterious Savannah. He’s sure she knows something about the missing jewels.
Savannah lives a lonely existence with her grandmother and her young daughter at The Manor. She’s been betrayed by anyone she’s ever loved. She reluctantly hires Matt to make some necessary repairs around the property. She can’t help but be attracted to him but she’s sure he’s hiding some secrets.
You will love this visit to the O’Neill family manor on the outskirts of Bonne Terre, Louisiana, a small town full of malicious gossip towards the inhabitants of this house built by the great-great-grandfather of the current octogenarian resident Margot. Maybe the gossip is justified since the house’s initial use was as a bar and a brothel in the days before cars were common. Now Margo manages the home for her granddaughter Savannah, 28, and her 8-year-old daughter Maggie, The rarely used door chime is rung by Matt (Wood) Howe a handsome man in a suit with an axe to grind. He is immediately mistaken for a handyman Margo has advertised for to overhaul the back courtyard. Matt just as quickly decides to take the job to do the spying he is so intent to get revenge and justice for his father who was boondoggled by Mago’s daughter Vanessa into the theft of jewels landing him in prison. You will love getting to know these three women through Matt’s tortured eyes as he gets no info on Vanessa but is deeply attracted to the town librarian and her daughter.
Margot, Savannah and Katie O’Neill – the infamous O’Neill’s – live in a falling down rambling manor that has been in the family for many years. So far every one in Savannah’s life has left her, her mother, her brothers and Eric, the father of her daughter. So when Matt Woods shows up at the O’Neill manor and is mistaken for the handyman, he realizes that he has a way to get close to these women, without them finding out why he is really there. As Matt transforms their garden into a sanctuary, something else blooms between him and Savannah and the chemistry between them is electrifying. But as they try to resist the pull of each other, Matt knows he can’t get involved because of the secrets he carries, and Savannah assumes Matt will leave like every other person in her life.
I really felt the pain in Savannah’s heart and the goodness that made Matt the man he was. Margot and Katie were a fun side story with their poker games, and sass – great read and a wonderful start to this new series.
The Sinner is a wonderful start to this 3 book Notorious series. I just love how Molly O’Keefe combines an air of mystery with a hard-fought romance. It seems the O’Neill family has quite the past which brings about much gossip and hatred towards them in the small town of Bonee Terre, Louisiana. With the story focusing on one Savannah O’Neill, this feisty woman will do anything to protect the rundown manor she inhabits along with her proud and very wise grandmother Margot and her strong-willed daughter Katie. With the sudden appearance of one Matt Howe, their steady world is knocked on its side and in the end, it’s truly the best thing to happen to all of them.
There is such desperation felt between Savannah and Matt, each on their own mission to find out more about the other. O’Keefe throws in a few twists and turns and shows us just how undeniable the heat is for both of them and soon we are all curious and biting our nails together wondering about all the whys and why nots of their journeys as Matt and Savannah fall hard for the other in a very short period of time.
O’Keefe knows how to give us just enough passion, just enough intrigue and thankfully doesn’t make us wait for some real happiness that both Matt and Savannah very much deserve. There is still a ton of unanswered questions wrt the O’Neill family with more secrets that will undoubtedly be uncovered as The Gambler and The Saint follow.
I really enjoyed this book and it is truly a great way for readers to discover the magic that is Molly O’Keefe’s writing. I happily give The Sinner a solid 5 stars!
Wow, this was a truly epic read. Savannah and Matt’s romance will send your heart on a monumental roller coaster ride of feelings. I fell for these characters so hard. These two each are carrying their own heavy baggage and my heart ached for them. Their attraction was undeniable and their chemistry was sweltering. The story will quickly have you captivated with its cleverly crafted blend of drama, secrets, powerful emotions, tension and turmoil.
Reputation, Savannah has suffered from it her whole life. Every mistake she made, due to her family’s name. Every problem she’s ever had, due to her family’s luck. Every heartbreak she’s ever suffered, due to her family’s curse. She knows it, she embraces it, and she has learned not to hope for more. And while her hopelessness rolls off the pages and hurts your heart, you see she really does want all the things she doesn’t think she should have, but she doesn’t trust it. Matt is almost her opposite, but he is also in a hopelessness place. He is just in a moment, and while Savannah gets to know and fall for him, she heals herself. And while Matt gets to know and falls for Savannah, he heals, but realizes only Savannah can make that final leap. Rich and moist like the Louisiana summer it is set in, this story tickled the sense and soaked into your feelings. A hard fought happily ever after is always sweeter, and this is one of the sweetest!