Giveaway and Review: "Duchess of Sin"

As part of the "Duchess of Sin" blog tour, I have my review and a giveaway of 5 copies of the book, sponsored by Hachette!

"Duchess of Sin"
by Laurel McKee

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: Dec 1, 2010

Source: sent by publisher


My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads.com:

Blonde and beautiful Lady Anna Blacknall is in the mood for mischief. Entering Dublin's most notorious den of vice, she finds herself in the arms of a mysterious, emerald-eyed Irishman. And although he is masked, his tender kiss is hauntingly familiar.

Conlan McTeer, Duke of Adair, has come to Dublin to fight for a free Ireland. But he's suddenly reunited with the young Englishwoman who had once claimed his heart, and his passion turns from politics to pleasure. When their sizzling encounter brings danger to Anna's door, she must decide where her loyalties lie-and quickly. For someone will do whatever it takes to destroy Conlan . . . and anyone he dares to love.


My Review:

"Duchess of Sin" is just the kind of historical romance that I love. The love story is so sweet and heart-stoppingly romantic. The lead couple is caring towards each other, and the secondary characters are vivid in their own right. The plot is fast-paced while still focusing on the romance.

Anna and Conlan aren't stereotypical romance characters, they're both fully developed and have many sides to their personalities. In fact, one of the things Conlan loves so much about Anna is that he is always learning something new about her.

I love that Anna is a bit wild and reckless (but not to the point that she's stupid or puts herself in real harm). She's so different from most of the super innocent and straight-laced society ladies we generally see in historical romance.

Conlan plays the role of dark, brooding, reclusive duke to a tee. However, he's also kind, caring, and heroic to anyone who cares to look past the surface.

As an added bonus, there are two more romances woven into the story. Anna's sister, Caroline, finds herself almost falling for 'the wrong man', a story that looks like it will be continued in the next book in the series. And Anna's mother, Katherine, has her own romance with Caroline's gorgeous and sensitive art tutor. I loved all of the supporting characters just as much as the leads.

The Irish history was not the typical historical romance fare, either. I really enjoyed reading about this time period in Ireland's history.

The story does have a bit of Christmas spirit, one part of the book focuses on a house party celebrating the season. It's fun to see the holiday traditions they took part in.

Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5

Setting: 5/5

Romance: 5/5

Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 5/5



Bottom Line: I loved this story, the leads were perfectly multi-dimensional and I really cared about what happened to them. Laurel McKee has just become one of my must-read historical romance authors.

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GIVEAWAY RULES:
Hachette books has generously provided FIVE copies of this historical romance for readers of my blog!



All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this review with your email address!

Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy.

Extra Entries:
  • +1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
  • +1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)

Rules:
  • US and Canada only
  • No PO Boxes please
  • Must be a follower to enter
  • Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
  • Leave a comment with your email address
  • Books will be mailed out by Hachette
  • Ends Monday Dec. 20
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!

37 comments

  1. Yay that it's good :D This will be my xmas book now, I need at least something with the holidays in it close to the date

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  2. Carrie!
    A dark and reclusive Duke! *le sigh*

    Oh! 5 stars! I could tell this one was going to be good because the cover is lovely, and your review makes me excited to give it a try. I'm not that big into historical romances, but this one, with a holiday feel to it, would be perfect for me.

    Thanks so much for the giveaway!

    missie at theunreadreader.com

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  4. Triple the whammy... You always have such delicious finds Carrie. XD Between you and Blodeuedd my tbr list is getting longer! =)

    *groans* I have to take my name out the running...I have PO Box. Mail is safer at my po. Oh well..*smiles* I'll still tweet it. I'm a rt happy kinda girl. lol!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You had me curious at "sweet and heart-stoppingly romantic". This book sounds incredible! Amazing review :D

    yabookqueen@yahoo.com

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  6. I follow on GFC. Would love to win!

    littleone AT shaw DOT ca

    ReplyDelete
  7. This sounds good!
    Follower on GFC & twitter
    http://twitter.com/lulilut/status/12264999640633344
    d.septer at insightbb.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love the non-traditional setting! Looks like a great read.

    the[dot]distant[dot]light[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love the idea, and I'm always in the mood for a good holiday-ish historical around this time of year. YA gets so few of them (or, like none).

    My email is dreaminginbooksATgmailDOTcom

    I also tweeted it! https://twitter.com/#!/DreamingReviews/status/12268510256304129

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'd really like to read more Historical fiction. Great review!

    Oh, and my entry: bookloversdiary@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I enjoyed the review and the more I hear about Duchess of Sin, the more I want to read it.

    Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
    GFC follower

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great review -- sounds divine!
    kimbaldwin74(at)yahoo(dot)com
    I'm a follower

    ReplyDelete
  13. Well if she has become one of your must read authors then I would really like to read her work. Thanks for the great giveaway and review.
    I'm an old follower
    apk1princess(at)live(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. This book sounds really good. I would love to win a copy!

    abbydillon16@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sounds like a great book!I am a follower.

    DreamyCowgirl @ hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would love to read it, it sounds really good. I am a gfc follower.
    debbie
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. This sounds like another good one for me to try.

    Old follower..... teamsheltie(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Looks like a fantastic book. Love the cover.

    robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am very excited to read this book and would love to win a copy! I am an old follower.

    jessica(at)novelreaction(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. It has been awhile since I have read a Historical Romance but, your review has me wanting to check this one out!

    gcpeach17 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. please enter me and thanks. It sounds like a very good read and I have not read many historicals.

    I follow as primrose

    yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  22. I positively love how romantic this sounds =) I'd love a chance to win a copy!!

    mishtakes AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Ohhhh hot dangit! Please include me in this one!!! I have been craving this one!!!! Please please please!!! =)

    alliwantandmorebooks@ gmail.com

    I am a GFC!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh, it's been a while since I've read a good historical romance and this one sounds like all that and more. Great review and one that will be going on my TBR pile for sure :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. great giveaway!!!

    Marta

    martamaturi@yahoo.it

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for the giveaway! I love historical romance. Please enter me. marcie.turner@yahoo.com I follow on GFC

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm impressed with all the 5's you gave it! Looks like a great book. I follow.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  28. Nothing I love better than curling up with a good historical romance.

    +1 http://twitter.com/#!/alterlisa/status/13831189827682304

    I follow on GFC.
    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Great giveaway. Count me in! :)

    teamstefan@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. That is such a positive review, that I had to try to win this!
    http://twitter.com/#!/deepratap/status/15397506980511744 (+1 tweet)

    Love to read it, hope I get the chance.

    deepalipratap@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. thanks for the giveaway

    tadhg_c (at) cde.state.co.us

    ReplyDelete
  32. Ah, what a gorgeous cover! This book sounds wonderful :):)
    nizmart at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Great review! This book sounds like my kind of read. Thanks for the giveaway.
    GFC follower.
    marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  34. i am a new follower~ so glad I stumbled upon your blog today!
    tiffb123@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your lovely comments!