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The Devil of Clan Sinclair
Karen Ranney

Avon / HarperCollins
August 2013 / ISBN 978-0062242440
Historical Romance (London, England 1868) / Sexuality
Amazon

Reviewed by Leslie C. Halpern

In this entertaining historical romance set partially in England and partially in Scotland, American heiress Virginia Traylor is forced into marriage to a rich English Count by her ambitious father who wants to buy a title for the family. Virginia must leave behind Macrath Sinclair, her Scottish boyfriend (who for the most part appears more like an angel than a devil), as she enters into this unhappy marriage. Soon widowed, she then gets pressured by her mother-in-law to produce a child (male, of course) immediately to secure the family money. As her marriage included only one unfruitful sexual encounter, Virginia finds herself drawn to Scotland in order to seduce Macrath and become pregnant right away.

This ill-advised secret plan doesn't meet with much resistance from Macrath. Even though he's hurt by her marriage to someone else, he easily responds to her romantic overtures. Unfortunately, Virginia was not completely honest with him about her marriage, nor is she honest about her intentions this time. Her duplicity again confuses Macrath and later enrages him when he learns she bore his child without telling him.

Working out the problems between them is no small matter. Virginia has considerable difficulty expressing herself honestly, and Macrath makes assumptions without asking for answers. Even so, the two create plenty of chemistry together. There's yet another matter looming over Virginia's plans for happiness and security: Paul Henderson, a dangerous servant who has become obsessed with her.

The author has a lively writing style that keeps the story flowing nicely, despite the distraction of jumping back and forth through time with frequent flashbacks. Descriptive language such as "Dark gray clouds skidded across the sky like puffs from a dragon's nose" makes it easier for readers to imagine the scenes taking place. Although Virginia's cowardice and dishonesty soon become tiresome, the story never falters and remains interesting from beginning to end.

Reviewer Leslie Halpern is the author of Passionate About Their Work: 151 Celebrities, Artists, and Experts on Creativity.
Reviewed 2013
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