American artist Jeremy Keane is attending a wedding breakfast, he does't want to be there, but he must; he loathes weddings for personal reasons. He suffers from a lack of inspiration, he's searching for a muse, and then he sees her. She is Lady Yvette Barlow. Jeremy strikes up a conversation with a gentleman who happens to be Yvette's brother, Edwin Barlow, Earl of Blakeborough. Jeremy's mother and sister are coming to London; Jeremy feels his sister Amanda should get married, and Jeremy reluctantly accepts to paint a portrait of Yvette, if Edwin helps Jeremy in his quest for a suitor for Amanda. Jeremy gathers he can always try to convince Yvette to agree to sit in secret for what would be his masterpiece: Art Sacrificed to Commerce.

THE ART OF SINNING is mostly a character-based story, and what characters they are: whether leads or secondary characters, they are all well-rounded and captivating. Jeremy appears to be a rogue because it suits his purposes, and while Yvette is known to enjoy the company of scoundrels because they amuse her, she is aware of her reputation and remains seemingly untouchable. Scandal follows the Barlows wherever they go, so she must tread carefully, but when a family matters requires action, she's the one who handles it. Yvette is a splendid character: she is brave, loyal, and resourceful; she is extremely beautiful but she lacks self-confidence to a degree, knowing only too well that her being wealthy and alluring makes her desirable to the wrong men; she has been burned before, she is wary, even though she is a very passionate woman.

THE ART OF SINNING is a fast-paced romance with an underlying suspense. Ms. Jeffries's prose is easy and elegant, the dialogues are impeccable, and I was impressed the author's research and understanding of the creative and behavioural processes an artist goes through. The romance between Jeremy and Yvette simmers before coming to a furious boil, while a few startling plot twists in the Yvette's enquiry lead to an unexpected albeit glorious conclusion. THE ART OF SINNING is a brilliant first instalment of what promises to be a very interesting series; well done, Ms. Jeffries!

Book Summary

The first novel in the Sinful Suitors series by New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries! At St. George’s Club, guardians conspire to keep their unattached sisters and wards out of the clutches of sinful suitors. Which works fine…except when the sinful suitors are members!

American artist Jeremy Keane refuses to return home and take over his father’s business. He’d much rather sample bevvies of beauties abroad, in search of a model for the provocative masterpiece he’s driven to paint. When he meets Lady Yvette Barlow at a London wedding, he realizes she’s perfect for his work—and determines to capture the young heiress’s defiant spirit and breathtaking sensuality on canvas.

No stranger to scandal, Yvette agrees to be Keane’s subject—in exchange for his help gaining entry to the city’s brothels he knows intimately, so she can track a missing woman and solve a family mystery. But when their practical partnership leads to lessons in the art of sinning, can they find a bold and lasting love?