April 2015 Book of the Month & Giveaway

May 20, 2015 04:16 PM Posted by juliannadouglas

I had no five-star reads in March, so I'm fast-forwarding to my April Book of the Month. My favorite book from April's reading is a beautifully written and emotionally engaging historical romance. The hero, Matthew (Apparently I have a thing for heroes with this name, since my February Book of the Month featured one too.:-)), is a brilliant artist and heir to a dukedom that he cares little about. Instead, he lives the life of a rakehell, taking his pleasures wherever and whenever he chooses. With only one person whom he counts as a true friend, Matthew generally lives the life of a loner and trusts no one, least of all women. He's a deeply tortured soul, whose past abuse has poorly colored his perceptions of sex, and therefore women mean little to him except as an outlet for his lust. Even then, he can usually only stomach it when he's drunk. That all changes the night he's beaten senseless and taken to a hospital where he meets Jane. Jane is a kind and caring nurse, and to Matthew, who has been temporarily blinded, her voice sounds like that of an angel. He is shocked to feel a desire to lose himself in her tender touch.

Jane is very plain spinster with a scandalous background, who knows she no man's idea of a catch. However, she longs to be desired. Although she knows nothing will likely come of it, she allows herself to entertain the idea of becoming more deeply involved with Matthew, and the short time they spend together is heavenly. That is until both of them discover the other's true identity and are disappointed in what they find. Thankfully for them, the attraction is still simmering beneath the surface, so when fate conspires to bring them back together, they gradually learn to trust one another. Jane finds that she cannot seem to deny Matthew the connection he so desperately needs, and as Matthew slowly allows Jane's gentle touch to heal the wounds of the past, it's a truly beautiful thing. But Matthew's father would never hear of him marrying so far beneath him and has plans of his own for Matthew's future.

I really loved this book. I had a hard time putting it down, and was always eager to get back to it. It engaged and enthralled me as I journeyed along with Matthew and Jane, wondering how they were ever going to be together. Jane was a heroine to whom I could relate, and Matthew was the kind of tortured hero I just wanted to wrap up in my arms and soothe away all the pain of the past. This book has been labeled an erotic romance, and while the love scenes are extremely sensual, they're certainly not what I would consider kinky at all. They're also about so much more than body parts and titillation, instead embodying the true expression of this couple's growing love for one another. The book itself has a non-traditional HEA, but I wasn't as bothered by it as many other readers were and still considered it a five-star read. The author wrote an epilogue with a true HEA that unfortunately never made it into the published version of the book, but was later released as a free read on her website. When taken together, they're the epitome of why I read romance. That's why I'm naming Charlotte Featherstone's Sinful as my April Book of the Month. If you enjoy romance and haven't read this wonderful book yet, you owe it to yourself to give it a try. Keep reading to learn how you can win a copy for your own library.

He must find redemption in the most unlikely bedchamber... In Victorian England vice of every kind can be purchased, and Matthew, the Earl of Wallingford, makes certain he avails himself of every possible pleasure. Bored and jaded, he is as well-known for his coldness as for his licentious affairs with beautiful women. While these numerous dalliances fulfill Matthew's every physical need, they secretly leave him numb and emotionally void. Until one night when he finds himself beaten, eyes bandaged and in the care of a nurse with the voice of an angel - and a gentle touch that soothes the darkness in him and makes him yearn for more. Yet Jane Rankin is a lowly nurse, considered shy and plain by most. There is no place for her amongst the lords and ladies of the aristocracy - despite Matthew's growing craving for the fire that burns behind her earnest facade. And then there is Matthew's secret. A secret so humiliating and scandalous it could destroy everyone he loves. A sin, he fears, not even the love of a good woman can take away...

Read my complete review of Sinful.

Giveaway

If you would like to win a copy of Sinful to see how wonderful it is for yourself, just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. One lucky winner will receive their choice of an eBook or print copy of the book. If the winner chooses an eBook, I will gift it to them via the eBook retailer of their choice (Amazon or B & N). If the winner chooses a print copy, I will have it mailed directly to them via Amazon. Good luck!

In addition to the actual book, I will email the winner a digital copy of the Sinful: Epilogue (since IMHO, it's crucial to the complete enjoyment of the story) and the short story, A Very Sinful Valentine, also featuring the same characters. Both were originally offered by the author for free on her website, but since she has sadly dropped off the radar for the past three years, her website no longer exists. Therefore, neither does easy access to the Sinful bonus shorts. I was lucky enough to be able to get my hands on them, so I'll gladly share them.

Categories: Book of the Month, Giveaways

Tags: Charlotte Featherstone