The Sins of Lord Easterbrook - Madeline Hunter

Only a desperate mission could bring Leona Montgomery face-to-face with the scoundrel whose dangerous sensuality once sent her fleeing from his arms. But she has under-estimated Christian, Marquess of Easterbrook. As irresistible as ever, his past swathed in mystery, Christian has his own plans for the woman he has waited seven years to claim. Yet once desire reignites, bringing a dangerous secret into the open, Leona will find herself bound to the seductive nobleman in
ways she could never have imagined. Seven years have changed nothing: this man can tempt her to ruin with just one touch. With Leona's reputation and hopes for her family's salvation in tatters, she must follow the only course left to her.even as each step brings her closer to a shattering truth and a passion she can no longer live without..

I have been a fan of Madeline Hunter ever since she wrote medievals. While those still remain in my keeper’s shelf her latest offerings haven’t been granted the same status. Entertaining yes but not as fulfilling. I do still read them all and the latest one was this.

We’ve been following Easterbrook since book 1 of the Rothwell series (this is book nº4) and while he hasn’t been a very sympathetic character there’s always been an aura of mystery about him that I felt could be a good omen for his story.

Unfortunately I can’t say I liked this one very much. Easterbrook was never really likeable, he was very full of himself and one truly feels that if he hadn’t been faced with Leona by chance she would never have been more than a footnote in his life’s history and as it is it was more a case of lust that brought them together than any true love. Hunter even seems to exemplify just that by having more love scenes than usual in their story.

What I liked the most was the information on the Opium trade. Leona comes to London to investigate how her father may have been involved in the illegal trade and that brings her in contact with some nasty people. Easterbrook keeps trying to protect her and ends up discovering his father may have been involved in it. What Easterbrook discovers will make him get to know himself better and eventually accept what he is.

Although we finally know why Easterbrook was almost a recluse, the truth is that I never felt any of his pain and sorrow and so the justification was a disappointment to me. I wanted more character development and I’m afraid there was none. Overall I thought the story had much potential but ended up not corresponding to my expectations.

Grade: 3.5/5