Lady Wombat says:

Eloisa James' blog recommended this author, but I can't say that I concur. No character development, telling rather than showing, contrived plot, and ignorance or simply disregard of Regency-era social norms.

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Dec08

Author Kathryn Caskie has launched a new series starring the ‘Seven Deadly Sins’—seven children of the Scottish peerage who each embody one of the seven ‘deadlies’. “To Sin With a Stranger” is the first book of the series and stars the eldest brother as he succumbs to a quite unlikely woman while making his courtship the talk of London!

When the Duke of Sinclair cast out his seven children and sent them to London to redeem themselves or be cut off forever from his name and riches, the eldest son, Sterling, is horrified and feels the burden of care for his siblings. Sterling’s ‘sin’ is Greed, so he is quick to do whatever is necessary to finance the siblings new life…even prizefighting. His scandalous charm will be put to the test when he meets a most unlikely woman. And, of course, she will be the one to tempt his possessiveness more than any woman before her.

Isobel is a quiet gentlewoman of a political schemer. When her fiancé and brother were killed in the war, she became a champion of those left behind by similar deaths and tirelessly campaigns for money to finance a home for the widows and orphans of soldiers killed in the war. She is shocked and disgusted when she happens upon a prizefight and the careless gambling of such outrageous sums on something so frivolous—and involving a nobleman to boot! When he involves her in a notorious bet on White’s infamous ‘betting book’, she’s also outraged. But the more time they spend together, the more confused she becomes. He seems so much ‘more’ than the façade he offers society. What is his scheme? And why?

I’ve read and enjoyed Kathryn Caskie’s earlier novels. But this one just seemed a bit ‘too’…something…staged, unrealistic, almost farcical. I couldn’t seem to warm to any of the Sinclair siblings, maybe because the author’s description of their antics made their disownment reasonable! Sterling’s obsession with wealth and money was odd when contrasted with his efforts to contribute to Isobel’s cause. And I found the reactions of London society to the ‘bet’ just plain nonsense and opposite of everything I’ve ever read of what would be allowed.

Isobel too was a confusing character for me. She never really became more than a figure on paper. Her actions and reactions were all over the place and that confused me even more. Her father’s motives were ever unclear and even when explained, I found them unreasonable and unlikely. And again, the seven siblings seemed more caricature than character.

I was so disappointed in Kathryn Caskie’s latest since I began the book with high hopes after reading the back cover blurb. I gave myself an extra day to think about the book, but still have to say that it just didn’t work for me on any number of levels. Having said all that, I will still pick up the next book in the series, hoping that “To Sin With a Stranger” will be an anomaly. ( )