Sins of a Wicked Duke

The Penwich School for Virtuous Girls #1

by Sophie Jordan

She works to live...

One would think the last place a beauty like Fallon O'Rourke could keep her virtue was in the Mayfair mansion of London's most licentious duke, the notorious Dominic Hale. Yet Fallon—who's endured nothing but lecherous advances since her father's tragic death—is perfectly safe there...disguised as a footman! Beneath the notice of the dark-haired devil with his smoldering blue eyes and sinful smile, Fallon never imagines her secret will be discovered. But how long can her deception last when she begins to wish she is one of the many women traipsing in and out of the sinful rogue's bedchamber?

He lives to sin...

Most men envy the duke, never suspecting his pleasure-loving ways are a desperate attempt to escape, however briefly, the pain of a past that's left him with a heart of stone. Only one woman can break down his defenses. Only one woman can win his love...if she reveals her secret and succumbs to the sins of the wicked duke.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Adult, Fiction

369 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 13, 2009

About the author

Pseudonym:
Sharie Kohler

Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History.

A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature - teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon A Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee for Best First Historical, hit book shelves. Her second novel, Too Wicked To Tame, released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller's List.

Reviews

[Catherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading multiple enthusiastic reviews at multiple sites I decided to pick this book up. Unfortunately this book didn't work for me nearly as well as it did for those other happy readers. The description of the book sounded promising and the details mentioned by the reviews were ones that I usually like. For some reason it just didn't come together for me in this book. I spent most of the book with one eyebrow cocked struggling to believe in the characters and their motivations.

For some reason I could never bring myself to like Fallon. I know that her pity party of one was supposed to make me feel for her, but it didn't work. I found her whiny and the type of person that would cut off her nose to spite herself. Her father died years ago following the demands of his employer. Fallon is unwilling to move past it and has a hatred for all noblemen (because her father's employer was one). The employer had paid for her to go to a school after her father's death, but that only deepened Fallon's dislike of him. The school she was sent to had a sadistic headmaster who got his jollies out of beating the girls enrolled there and watching them suffer.

This sounds like a nice background for character growth and the realization that it is narrow minded to blame a large group of people for the actions of one man. Unfortunately I didn't see that happen until the last few pages. When it finally did happen I didn't believe it. It seemed like she stayed mired in her bitterness the whole book until the author realized the end was coming up and had Fallon play lip service to character growth so that she and Dominic could get their HEA.

Very little was ever made out of the fact that Fallon was a servant and Dominic was a duke. I know it was brought up a few times by Fallon to explain why they could never be together but it seemed like a token excuse that was ignored when it didn't suit the plot. When they finally got together in the end the class difference was ignored in a way that I found laughable.

I know that Fallon blamed her looks and the fact that she wouldn't put out for not being able to keep a job, but I really don't believe that. She seemed to have no awareness of the fact that she was a servant and what that meant to her standing in the world. The girl couldn't keep her mouth shut and her rudeness contained if you stapled her lips shut. I think that was the real reason she couldn't keep a job.

Dominic was a pretty bland character. He was made out to be this dissolute rake that still managed to be sexy to Fallon. Unfortunately it didn't work for me. Usually there is something about the rakes that wallow in darkness that fascinates you even as their actions repel you. He didn't have that spark. Because of this lack I couldn't understand what Fallon was so fascinated by. She apparently saw something in him that fascinated her enough to look past his skeezy behavior. I wish I had seen it too.

One last point... I really dislike the fact that Fallon's charade lasted for so long. It made the rest of their relationship seem really rushed. It seemed like the minute Dominic saw she had breasts he worshiped her. Very irritating. I don't know if I'll try this author again. If the rest of her books are styled in this manner I don't think they'll work for me.

[Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is more of a historical fairytale rather than a historical romance as it has so many tropes in it. There is the Cinderella who is a female servant dressed as a man who becomes a valet. Both of the main characters had an abusive childhood, and the duke truly is rather debauched. BUT with a heart of gold. Now for the modern-day reader this was written in 2009 and has a bathtub scene and if anyone has ever read an old school bodice ripper, we know this means dubious consent. I just suspended belief and the bad guys ended up being good guys and I had a fun fast enjoyable read. with a hea 3.75*

[Sarah MacLean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just reread SOAWD...and was reminded of how AMAZING Sophie Jordan is. This is my favorite of her books (though I love them all...), perfect tortured hero meets fabulous, feisty heroine...who dresses as a male (one of my favorite things). The reveal of her actual gender is perfectly pitched...you will not be able to put this one down. Sophie Jordan is one of the very best.

[Lisa Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★☆☆ (This is a review of the audiobook.) This is well narrated by Emily Gray. I would certainly listen to her again. I give the narration ★★★★☆.

I didn’t realize I’d read this book before until I started listening to this one. Alas, I think I’ve turned into a prude. There are a couple of ‘ick factors’ in this one. The first one I tried to shake off, the second I couldn’t: Hero saves heroine at beginning of book and gives her a lift in his carriage. He has two less that proper women in the carriage with him and proceeds to let them fondle him in front of heroine. Not my cuppa. This is supposed to be to shock her and to establish him as a very debauched rake, instead of someone who would save a damsel in distress. Nevertheless, it comes across as disturbing and insulting. But, as I said, I carried on.

The second one needs a bit of a set-up. The hero has been dallying with a married lady. The woman’s husband bursts in, brandishing a pistol. The heroine, now under the guise of a footman in the hero’s household, rushes into the room with the rest of the staff. She checks out his ‘ample’ charms. Huh? Excuse me, but this guy has just admitting to going ‘two rounds’ with the adulteress. Maybe I’m having too much of a visual image here, but I don’t really want to have my first thought of this mighty appendage to be with any ‘traces’ of his illicit activities with another woman. Am I right, or am I right?

Ms. Jordan writes a good story otherwise. See, once again, my hang-ups ruin a perfectly good book. **sigh**

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s a Mr Brocklehurst! And he’s running a horrible school for girls! Unfortunately, when a story peaks in the prologue, it’s not a good sign.

So Fallon is a tall girl with big hair and a chip on her shoulder. She’s left the creepy clutches of the Brocklehurst and become a housemaid to a widow. When the widow’s son starts making moves she runs from the house! He gives chase! She punches him! Fallon is now out of a job.

Her altercation is witnessed by Duke Dominic, who offers her a ride in his carriage. He’s already got two other girls in there with him, and he starts playing peekaboo with one of his girl’s breasticles while Fallon watches, because Dominic is a sleaze and has fallen in deep lust with Fallon’s hair.

Fallon’s hair is really complicated. It’s big and long and I think it’s mostly red, but it’s described as having all these different other colours in it as well, which doesn’t really impress me because: foils. Dominic wants to make sweet love to Fallon’s hair. He’ll do the rest of her too, but wow, that hair! Will Fallon agree to be girl number three, or even girl number one if he ditches these two losers?

Err, no. She’s not keen, so she gets out of the carriage. So Dominic is left with the inspiration to paint Fallon because he’s a secret artist. Nobody is allowed to go into his art room! He doesn’t really know what the rest of her looks like, but he’s pretty sure she had eyes and was tall, but who cares? Hair. Hair hair hair.

Fallon too, knows her hair is the source of all her many troubles with the men. I’m not as convinced, because there’s very little evidence that she’s a sensible person. Anyway, Fallon decides she’d be better off as a man, so she dresses up as one and sets out to get a job as a footman. Buh bye hair.

Because it’s convenient, Fallon ends up working for Dominic. And because it’s even more convenient, she’s soon promoted to be his valet. If you know anything about history stuff, and sort of like historical romances to agree with the way things worked, the way servants work in Jordan’s world might upset you a bit.

This could all be a set up for a nice long yearning, with Fallon having to cope with touching Dominic’s body, and seeing naked bits, and maybe giving him a good wash, and Dominic wondering why he’s starting to get a little shivery when his valet’s buttoning up his pants. Or it could have turned into that episode of Blackadder where he falls in love with his servant Bob, which I kept thinking about because I haven’t seen it in years, but all those Elizabethan Blackadders were heaps of fun.

The problem is: Dominic’s a bit of a nothing character. He has issues, sure. But issues aren’t enough to make me like someone. He’s rich and pretty, and his life is clutching at women’s bits and getting plastered. Blind drunk plastered – he doesn’t realise he’s feeling up Fallon and he’s so drunk, he’s all: ooh, unexpected breasticles, nice, zzzz. Hey where did breasticles go?

Fallon somehow manages to fall in love with Dominic, despite the fact she hates all aristos because an aristo sent her dad to foreign parts to get a flower and her dad died, and also despite the fact that Dominic gets drunk and clutches at women all the time. It all turns out fine, without Dominic having to worry about having non-hetero feels for his valet, and Fallon working out that not all aristos eventually try to get their servants killed.

[Arzu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aşkın Günahı

Kitabı Esra ile birlikte okuduk eğer onla okumasaydım bu kadar eğlenir miydim bilmiyorum açıkçası. Yazarın ilk kitaplarından olduğundan pek yüklenmeyi düşünmüyorum. Ama yazarcığım be neden böyle bir kurguyu neden sonlara doğru geçiştirir gibi yazdın? Daha eğlenceli daha güzel yazılabilirdi.

Mesela adam kadın olmadığını bilmeden kadından etkilense falan baya eğlenirdik ya da kadınla oyun oynasa. Ama yazar naptı en heyecansız en şüphe bırakmayacak şekilde sırrı açığa çıkardı. Yazarcım üzgünüm bizimle değilsin bu konuda.

Şimdi sıra Dominic'te. Esra ile bu adama yürüyen libido adını taktık. Çünkü adamın yürüyüşünde, gülüşünde bile şeytanlık vardı. Hangi kadın dayanırdı ki? Dayanamıyordu ki kadınlar evi yol geçen hanına çevirmişlerdi. Dominic'in unutamayacağım şeylerinden biri o yılan dövmesi ve resim çizmesi. Bu iki özelliği duyunca ben elendim zaten. Adamda ki libido gözümü korkutmadı değil. Bir araba sahnesi vardı ki... Okuyanlar beni anlayacak 😂😂

Sıra geldi kızımız Fallon'a. Günahkar görünümlü masum kızımız, sırf görünüşü yüzünden bir işte barınamadı. Günümüzde bile hala güzellik başa bela olabiliyor. Bazı şeyler asla değişmiyor😒 Sırf kızımız yağmurdan kaçayım dedi bu olanlardan sonra doluya tutuldu. Hem de Şeytan Dükü gibi bir dolu bu. Kızımız pısırık değildi ama adama karşı biraz daha baskın olabilirdi diye düşünüyorum ama yine de çok bile dayandı adama. Bir de kızımızın yılmayışı güzeldi. Dileği gerçekleşti sonunda, onun adına mutlu oldum.

Kitabın sonu da çok tatlı bitti. Bir de Dominic'e kız çocuk vermek ha?😂😂 Bir çapkının kız babası olması şu hayatta en çok okumak isteyececeğim kitap olabilir. Gidip yazara bir bakıyım belki yazmıştır bu konuyu😂😂

[Esra Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kitabı Arzu'yla okuduk ve konuşa konuşa okumak gerçekten çok keyifliydi. Hatta kitap okumak bu şekilde daha keyifliymiş. Ama tabii bu durum kitabın kötü olduğu gerçeğini değiştirmiyor. Başlarda her şey çok güzeldi. Hatta ne olacak diye heyecan bile yaptık. Ama sonra yazar hikayenin asıl yerini o kadar kötü yazmıştı ki, beklentilerim çöp oldu diyebilirim. Sonrası da zaten çığ gibi yuvarlandı, hikayenin geri kalanını da bana göre berbat etti. Klasik bir tarihi aşk hikayesi, zaten bir beklentim yoktu, ama konu gerçekten güzeldi. Eğer yazar sahnelerin hakkını verebilseydi, tadından yenmeyecek, harika bir roman olurdu eminim.

Erkek karakteri yürüyen libidoydu resmen. Ayaklı seks gibi bir şeydi. Gibi değildi hatta tam olarak öyleydi. Göğsündeki o yılan dövmesini asla unutmayacağım. O saçlar, tavırlar falan. Kitaptaki en iyi şey oydu, ama ta ki yazarın her şeyi berbat etmesine kadar. Yapmayın böyle yazarlar ya, her şey güzel gidiyordu halbuki.

[Sibel Gandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 / 5
Polisiyelere kısa bir ara 😶
Re-read batağına düşecekmişim gibi duruyorum 🤔

[Kit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Skip this

Honestly, there wasn't much to like about this book. I love cross-dressing romances, but the cisheteronormativity in this book was ridiculous. And the way Dominic treated and talked about Fallon was sickening. Don't read this one, it's not worth it.

[Tammy Walton Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh, I liked this one quite a bit. It's somewhat unrealistic, wallpapery and not a lot goes on outside of the romance between Dominic and Fallon. But what an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon!

The story opens in an orphanage/girl's school straight out of Jane Eyre - the girls are cold, hungry, picked on and beaten by a sadistic headmaster. An alliance is formed between 3 girls -- Fallon, Evelyn and Marguerite which becomes a lifelong friendship (trilogy, anyone?) .

Skip ahead a bit, the girls are grown up and Fallon has lost yet another posting because of improper advances made by the son of her employer. On her way to stay with her friend Evie (Evelyn), she accepts an offer of a carriage ride from a member of the nobility - and comes face to face with Dominic Hale, Duke of Damon.

The Demon Duke, he is called, and he is exactly that. Rich, bored and numb. Unable to feel anything besides the pleasure of the moment - be it gaming, drinking or women - and even that is starting to pall. In an attempt to shock Fallon, he puts on a display with two ladybirds in his carriage unlike anything Fallon has ever seen. It offends her, intrigues her and arouses her. He gives her his card and tells her to keep it, "in case you ever have need of a friend". Never, she thinks. "The world would stop turning before she ever crossed the threshold of 15 Pottingham Place."

Having finally gotten to Evie's hotel, an angry, frustrated and frightened Fallon seizes on the notion that as men can do whatever they want, she should become one in order to be left alone. So, off comes her hair, on goes the livery, and away she goes to the agency to gain employment as a man.

She ends up right back at the doorway of 15 Pottingham Place.

And here is where the book gets really interesting. Notice I didn't say believable, because I didn't find it to be, but Sophie Jordan tells a pretty good story. The Demon Duke, possessed of a wicked serpent tattoo covering the top half of his chest, is not possessed of any morals that Fallon can see, and seems to work very hard to maintain his reputation as a shocking libertine. There are some pretty amusing scenes involving the Duke and the various "ladies" that parade through his home, to the disgust of his valet, Mr. Diddlesworth.

Fallon is HUGELY attracted to the Duke, and, unbeknownst to her, Dominic can't forget her either - his memory of her from that night in the carriage haunts him. Fallon (or Francis, as she now is) becomes a footman in the Duke's household - until the day she wrestles a gun away from an cuckolded spouse, intent on avenging his wandering wife's honour. She saves the Duke's life, and for that is given a promotion - twice the pay, but the position is that of the Duke's valet .

Let the games begin! Dominic is continually exasperated with Francis, and struggles to understand why it seems so important his valet approve of him. Fallon is tormented by her very nearness to the Duke. There is an obligatory he's-completely-bombed-and-mistakes-her-for-a-doxy scene in this book too, which just makes matters worse for both of them. Fallon knows she is falling in love with him, and Dominic just becomes more confused as to her identity.

Of course, these girl-disguised-as-boy charades cannot go on forever. All girls like to soak in the tub, so you know the second Fallon gets in (when her room adjoins the Duke's, ffs!) that she is going to be found out.

The whole book was hugely entertaining. The yearning, the chemistry, the tension, the sizzle between Dominic and Fallon was palpable. And of course, the love scenes were sigh-worthy. (Lots of backing up into the wall and taking on a kitchen table - then when they finally get to bed...).

Dominic, of course, is not quite as bad as he makes himself out to be. There are hints dropped here and there, and little glimpses Fallon gets of the real man beneath the licentious exterior. He and Fallon actually share a similar tortured upbringing. Kindred spirits, one might say.

Everything works out quite nicely, and tidily wrapped up with a pretty bow on it. I did say it was unrealistic and wallpapery, didn't I?

A couple of the things bugged me a bit: her name - Fallon. I looked it up and yes, it's Gaelic in origin, but I immediately thought of Blake Carrington's daughter on Dynasty. And it was so unlike any of the other names of characters in the book it seemed out of place to me. Fallon's past seemed to me to get fixed up much too conveniently as well -- for all the heartbreak and anger she seems to have about her father's death and her time at the school it all seems to get resolved too nicely -- with an "oh, ok, thank you!". And I don't know a whole lot about Regency England, but I'm not certain that a Duke would ever be able to marry a complete commoner, no matter how much they loved one another.

SoaWD is one of those historical romances that has a larger sized font, and is almost 1 1/2 spacing. To me this almost automatically means a light, frothy read -- heavy on the romance and steam, light on the historical detail/accuracy. True in this case, imo.

If you read it just for the characters and the romance you are in for a treat -- 4 stars.

If you are looking for some historical detail, accuracy and just a sense of actually BEING in Regency England, you might have to suspend that just a bit.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two people emotionally scarred from their childhoods, Fallon O'Rourke and Dominic Hale, Duke of Damon meet when she is being accosted in the street by her employers inebriated son who has been trying to get her to "play" with him and his friends. Dom passes this scene while in his carriage fondling the two women with him. When he stops to rescue her, she already has saved herself by kneeing the man in the groin. Dom gives her a ride and propositions her after trying to shock her while fondling the women in front of her. Of course she rejects him, but was intrigued while appalled at the same time.
She needs to find a new job so she decides to cut off her glorious hair and apply as a man to avoid the recurrent problems she faces as she always seems to be accosted by her male employers. She is sent to the Dukes house as a footman.
Meanwhile Dom can't forget Fallon. He is a horrible rake, that uses women for sex to feel alive, but since he met Fallon, this isn't working for him anymore. What happens during the rest of the story, you can probably guess, but it was a lot of fun getting there. I like the way Sophie Jordan writes in the sexual tension, it just sizzles off the pages.
I really liked Dom, he was so immersed in misery from his horrid past that he is unable to function normally. He had some crazy snake tattoo on his chest that I wished I could see :)
Fallon was awesome as well, she did some stupid things, but she had such a miserable past that it was understandable.
I hope the rest of the series is as good as this one..

[Pınar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bir süredir aklımda takılan bir soru var. Yayınevleri, bir hatta tercihen iki dil bilen arkadaşları bünyesine katmak yerine, neden Türkçe bilen insanları almıyor işe. Hayır yani çeviri de hatalı, redaksiyon da. Ee o zaman niye 2 dil bilen insan arıyorsunuz. Bence Türkçe bilen biri daha iyi olur. Siz bir de bunu deneyin bak, cidden farkı göreceksiniz.

Redaksiyona baştan değindim bu sefer ama cidden sıkıldım bu durumdan. Bayağı tarihî aşk romanı okudum bu sıralar ve çoğu da Pegasus'a denk geldi. Hem Jordan, hem de Maxwell kötüydü bu anlamda. Biraz daha özenilse güzel olurdu ama kimse dikkate almadığı için yine kendi kendime konuşmuş olacağımı da biliyorum.

Kitaba gelirsek, konusu ve karakterleri güzeldi. Kızın sağlam duruşunu sevdim. Kızı sadece metres statüsüne uygun gören erkeğimize öfkem ise hâlâ taze. Neyse alıştık biz öküzlere. Burada kızın tavrı önemliydi, o da fena değildi.

Tarihî aşk romanı kriziniz geldiğinde okuyabileceğiniz güzel kitaplardan biri. Elinizde bulundurun derim.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This is very different from most HRs. The hero is really an anti-hero, and unlike most HRs with rakes as heroes, this one really is a rake - unpleasant, decadent, rather sexually depraved and just plain nasty. The heroine is also rather unlikeable, although more understandably so - she's had a pretty tough deal from life and continues to get one, although I did get the impression she could maybe have learnt a bit more from her experiences.

Dressing herself up as a footman is inspired. I normally find those themes pretty unbelievable, but somehow it really works here. She's doing it for the most realistic of reasons - more pay, no unwanted attention, and because she can get away with it.

Why I marked this one down to 4 stars instead of giving it 5 was simply because I felt that after such an unconventional, angsty story, full of pain and loss and hurt, that the ending was just too conventional and easy. It could have been from any Regency HR really.

[Jessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having liked Sophie Jordan in the past, this book is a disappointment and in particular felt like a poor imitation of A Duke's Temptation by Jillian Hunter.

The story begins with Fallon who has grown mistreated in a poor and demeaning orphanage. Because of her striking appearance and red hair, has a hard time keeping a position inside a respectable household. After the son of her employer makes unwanted advances she flees. This is all quite standard for books in this period. Fallon decides the only way to keep her self safe is to disguise as a man and take a position as a footman. Interesting twist, albeit not original (see Twelfth Night - Shakespeare). She is sent to work for the Duke of Damon, Dominic Hale. They've only met once before, on the night she was fleeing her employer's son, where the duke offers her a ride and then tries to entice her by pawing (and I'm being delicate here) the prostitute(?) waiting in his carriage.

And ick.

While working as footman in the duke's home Fallon is able to see up close and personal the rake (whore, really, it's a wonder he didn't have pox) the duke has become. And it's not like cavorts with willing widows. He brings prostitutes back to his ducal household (and bed) and freely admits to ruining virgins and innocents in public.

She gets some insight into why, what with him having a difficult childhood at the hands of a religiously cruel grandfather. Fallon beings to feel a kinship and attraction, and when she is finally revealed as a women, he tries to seduce her and she tries to refuse, until finally she succumbs and sleeps with him.

Up until this point, I was hard pressed to find the duke all that attractive or really redeemable. He claimed the women in his household are all safe from unwanted advances and yet when Fallon says no he ignores her and traps her at every turn. The staff in the duke's household claim to be loyal to him, but when his life is threaten by a jealous husband or a thieving whore they do nothing but stand around and stare at the spectacle. Maybe this is invited by the duke, but it does little to justify the servants disregard for his well fare or their anger at Fallon when it is revealed she is a woman. They snicker and talk about her and call her a whore, and this completely escapes the duke's notice.

And here is where the book takes a really disturbing turn.

When Fallon and the duke finally "give in to their attraction", he has cornered her in the kitchen pantry (further belying the earlier claim that he wouldn't), tosses her up on a table, lifts her skirts and without any acquiescence on Fallon's part, they have sex. (No real preparation either, even tho she is a virgin.)

And hello DUBIOUS CONSENT.

The reader is supposed to be okay with this because Fallon is attracted to him and they've been fighting their sexual tension and she doesn't explicitly say no. Fallon never engaged in their affair. She just gives in because he is handsome and she loves him and she is supposed to. This entire exchange is really where the book lost me and left me feeling, well, gross. For the rest of the story I had no interest in Fallon's pain at refusing to be his mistress or the duke's emptiness because of his tortured past.

Of course, he sees the error of his ways and asks her to marry him. Of course she loves him and says yes. And the author completely overlooks the question of how Fallon is supposed to be the duchess and reside over a household of servants who a few pages ago were calling her a whore.

There is a sequel, probably two. The duke's friend features in the story and it is alluded to that he gets his own HEA. But really, in the end, I just didn't care.

[Sara]

The sins of fathers go farther
you can't fix the broken moon
the wind went with ugly years
thats not sharp
look at miss
is tears can fix the illness
or past years can be forgiven
hungry to kindness
hungry for you
at last you mine
the sins far away
that the dust truth
tree can go hight
with lovely stand by
don't cut the beauty
that in your eyes
in your sins
you are mine

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Sins of a Wicked Duke" is Sophie Jordan's latest historical with moderate heat about a young woman whose temperment and looks have made it hard for her to keep a job. So she does the unthinkable--cuts her long hair, disguises herself, and hires on as a footman!

Fallon's life took a hard turn as a young girl when her father died. She was sent to a school where her flame-red hair earned her especially harsh treatment from the headmaster. She hated every moment, but did cherish the two friends she made and kept. After escaping the school, she's had a hard time earning her keep as a servant, simply because she refuses to become a man's toy and tends to speak her mind. After losing yet another job, Fallon comes up with the perfect plan...she'll become a footman! But 'best laid plans' and all that since the house she hires out to is that of the licentious duke. If anyone can penetrate her disguise, it's certainly a man who knows women as well as the Duke.

Dominic grew up with all the privileges of his station. He also grew up under the severe tutelage and control of his grandfather, who blamed Dominic's father for the ruination and death of his daughter, Dominic's mother, and was determined to punish Dominic for his 'blood'. After being told so often that he was a devil, Dominic decided to live up to his name...and he's done quite the bang up job of it ever since. Now he's jaded and becoming bored with life, until he meets a beautiful servant girl he can't seem to forget.

Not a bad read, just not very memorable. I had difficulty becoming attached to either of the lead characters and that affected my enjoyment of the plot. What was nice about this story is the lack of any danger or intrigue. This is purely a romance about two people who should be all wrong for each other...but discover that nothing levels the playing field like love.

[Bookaholic (reads every mortal thing) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Damn you, high expectations. You ruin everything.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Riz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐

[♡PıNaR DeğiRmeNci ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aşkın Günahı (The Penwich School for Virtuous Girls Serisi 1)
Sophie Jordan,
İşte bana bu kitaplarla gelin. Ne hızlı bir ilerlemeydi her satırı keyifle okudum😄
Özelikle üç kızın biraraya gelmesi anını. Buradan bile hoş bir kitap olduğundan emindim😄 ki yanıltmadı beni.
Konusu
Fallon güzelliğini gizleyebilirdi... Peki ya arzularını?

Biri maskelerin ardında yaşıyor...

Fallon O'Rourke gibi bir güzelin iffetini koruyabileceği son yer, Londra'nın en çapkın dükü Dominic Hale'in Mayfair'deki malikânesidir. Ancak genç kız orada güvendedir çünkü bir uşak kılığına girmiştir. Sırrını korumak için elinden geleni yapmasına rağmen günahkâr çapkının yatak odasına girip çıkan kadınlardan biri olmayı dilediğini fark eden Fallon, bu oyunu sürdürebilecek midir?

Diğeri günah işlemek için yaşıyor...
Yorumuma gelince gerçekten Dominic tam bir hovarda her türlü😂 okurken yok artık dediğim bunu da yapmaz dediğim herseyi yaptı ama fallon herseyi altüst edene kadar. Keyifle okudum arkadaşlar sonuna kadar hemde😋

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A savage smile twisted his lips. Anger burned in his blood. Dark and dangerous. He flattened both hands on the wall, one on either side of her head. Damp heat emanated from her body, drawing him in. Leaning closer, her palm rose up to flatten against his chest, clearly thinking to stop him.
Blistering heat sparked where they touched. Her gaze flared wide, almost directly on level with his. But she did not withdraw. Not as she should. Something held her hand there, a will that matched his own, a determination to show control.
Dark desire flared within him. Primitive and fierce as any wild animal bred to take and conquer what he craved.
He studied the brown depths of her eyes, truly seeing them now. The amber hue glowed like fire. He read the fury trapped there, as trapped as she was. And something else stirred there.
Awareness of her defeat.
His slow smile curved his mouth. He dipped his head, grazing her soft cheek with his own. Her indrawn breath hissed near his ear and deep satisfaction smoldered through him. He breathed directly into her ear, “Game over. Time to pay the piper.”

How does it sound if a woman pretends to be a man so she can get a chance to work? Intriguing. That was why I read this book and I was fully satisfied. Sins of a Wicked Duke by Sophie Jordan came with exclusive package: a bad tortured wicked attractive hero, a strong-willed unique gorgeous heroine, breathtaking romance, well written story, and of course lovely ending.

Fallon O'Rourke hates aristocrats. They separated her father from her. They even sent her to a school with a teacher who loved to use violence against children. She never saw her father again until the day he died. Struggle for living, she needs a job. It's so much easier to work without having to worry the risk of her presence as a woman. Fallon realizes she was a strong woman with tall figure and not so feminine face bone. So when she gets the chance, she cuts her beautiful hair, dress like a man, and take the job. She doesn't notice the request is from the Duke of Damon's household. Fallon doesn't want to meet the duke for the second time. She knew the man is a dangerous handsome libertine with horrible manner. But she desperately needs the job. So she under covers as Francis the footman. Fallon doesn't know that Dominic has never stopped thinking about a tall amazon woman with striking colour of hair and sensual face, a face that has been haunted him since the first time he met her.

Dominic Hale makes himself lost in hate. He has been living in sin to bring shame to his vicar grandfather. He believes that he's not able to feel anything to anyone in his lonely and empty life. But he doesn't aware that the woman he's been looking for is in his house, working as a footman.

This undercover thing was hilarious! especially later when Francis, because of her heroic act, had been promoted as the duke's valet. LOL. There were times when I wanted to kick Dominic and slap Fallon. One was too hard showing that he was uncapable of loving. The other one was too stubborn to admit that she needed him in her life. As for the downside, their first lovemaking surprised me since it happened in the kitchen. Yeah, kitchen counter it was. Kinda awkward, though they still reached bed, eventually.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this book. So many fireworks in their relationship that could burn you and touch your heart. Dominic's relationship with his grandfather was also very interesting. Sins of a Wicked Duke was one of the few romance books with common theme but held my attention throughout the story. The message was clear: love is about forgiving.

[moi, k.y.a. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uzun zamandır kendime gelemeyişlerime bir historical romance ile ara vermek gerektiğini düşündüm.
İyi de yaptım hani, keyifli bir okuma oldu benim için :)

Fallon O’Rourke yetim kalmış, yatılı bir okulda eğitim almış bir hizmetli.
Elinde olmayan nedenlerle çalışma hayatında sürekli sorunlar yaşamasıyla ünlü kendisi. Hayallerine ulaşmak için çalışmaya devam etmesi gerektiğinden farklı bir şey denemeye kalkar; erkek kılığına girmek!
Saçlarını kesip göğüslerini sararak genç bir erkeğe dönüşen kızımız artık güvende olduğu, özgürce çalışabileceğini düşünerek uşak olarak yeni bir işe başlar.

Dominic, nam-ı diğer Şeytan Dük ise tam bir sefahat düşkünüdür. Şehrin yarısını elden geçirmiş; asla durulmayan, tatmin olmayan bir şeytan.

Tahmin edebilirsiniz ki Fallon, Français olarak dükün evinde işe başlıyor. Kızımız ne kadar güvende olduğunu düşünse de büyük kadın avcısından kendini saklaması ne kadar mümkün olabilir ki?

İşte tüm bunlarla keyifli, ateşli ve hoş bir kitap okudum.
Seriden bir kitabı çok çok uzun zaman önce okuduğumu gördüm, hatırlamamakla beraber, zamanında onu da beğenmişim. Bu kitabın da üstüne kesinlikle Sophie Jordan okumaya devam edeceğim diyebilirim.
Tarzını sevdim, rahatlıkla da tavsiye ederim.

Benden şimdilik bu kadar, yeni yeni ısınıyorum, anlayış lütfen :)

[Willow Brook · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just ok. I really didn't care for the hero Dominic, who was an asshat much of the time. He whores around, drinks heavily, finds it amusing to call his servants by the wrong name and his first attempt at "seduction" is to suck on another woman's breast in front of the heroine Fallon whom he has just met and whom he knows has just fought off the unwanted advances of another "gentleman." Keep on mind this is some time in the 19th Century, Fallon is a virgin, just faced possible rape from another guy, and she hasn't been watching a lot of Showtime. Despite all that and her disgust at his behavior, she is also turned on. Fallon's attraction towards him made no sense to me and lowered my opinion of her. Dominic had some redeeming qualities but was such a jerk in so many ways because of his bad childhood that I had little sympathy for him (he had plenty enough for himself) and next to no interest in these two mixed up kids finding their HEA.

[MisskTarsis · Rating 4 out of 5]

DOMINIC ME ENCANTA!! Se tenía que decir y se dijo, jum.

El diablo, el perverso Duque que monta orgías, está tatuado y se para a medio día, cae hechizado por una chica que no vuelve a ver. Resulta que esa hermosa chica comienza a trabajar para él haciéndose pasar por un chico, está harta de ser subestimada y botada sólo por ser mujer, y no permitir que se propasen con ella.

El libro me hizo reír mucho, me encanta la química entre ellos. Me encanta como se desenvuelve todo.

[Lexi72 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of Sophie Jordan's books and I think she just keeps getting better! I think Sophie's heroines always have strong personalities and are very likable in each of her books. I especially liked "Sins of A Wicked Duke" and am looking forward to the other books that will start this new series!

[Maureen Feeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by SJ, but definitely not my last.
The reviews have said nearly all I want to say. I just love the bit at the start of the book where Dominic tries to shock Fallon in the carraige, I didn't expect that! Great scene.

I am going to order the sequel "In scandal they wed" Evies story straight away. Very entertaining enjoyable book.

[♡Karlyn P♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and quick historical read. Not much depth but overall a satisfying, light love story. If you like stories of the heroine dressing/hiding as a man, this will appeal to you.

[Cozen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. You don't get a lot of these stories from the historic genre and I quite liked the plot.

[Karen Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. The duke is truly sinful. The heroine is great. I loved the way she took matters into her own hands.

[Auj · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the plot premise, but Fallon's self-righteousness was so annoying. Ugh and why was she always trying to hit Dominic?! As they say, a true infuriating female