The Sins of Lord Easterbrook

When I started reading Madeline Hunter's fourth installment of the Rothwell Family series, I immediately didn't like it. That dislike marginal improved once I finished, though I think it was more from relief than anything else.

This book is so flat and shallow. Shallow in a sense that the dialogues, the characters, the STORY - are poorly developed. And there was so much potential to this plot: a brooding hero tortured with clairsentience and an exotic heroine who grew up in the East, determined to save her family's trade business.

Instead, you get Christian, Marquess of Easterbrook, whose insufferable conceit is all that he has going for him. I find the arrogance in a hero endearing most of the time, but only if he has other redeeming show more qualities. And what about Leona Montgomery? Well, I'd love to say more but there just isn't anything to say. Her character is boring and one-dimensional. She's just...there.

Some of the dialogues made me cringe: "I should thank you for your restraint. I am still officially a virgin." No one in the 21st-century would talk like this, let alone in conservative 19th-century England.

From the first page to the last, I felt like I was reading someone else's account of Christian and Leona's story. I was constantly being told they felt this way and that way but was never really shown how or why. How do you show this? Through better dialogues and an even better character development.

The only sin happening with this book was the waste of my time. show less

"The Sins of Lord Easterbrook" is book four in Madeline Hunter's 'Rothwell' family series and in some ways, I think it might be the most interesting. The story is one of the clash of cultures, traditions, classes, and genders.

Leona is the daughter of an English father and a Portuguese mother who was raised in the Far East. She's never forgotten the Englishman, Edmund, who was the object of her affections, her first kiss, and possibly her first betrayal. She's come to England to assist her younger brother's business by forging shipping and trading connections. But she's also come to quietly investigate the possibility of some high-ranking Lords' involvement in the smuggling of opium and a plot which ultimately resulted in her father's show more death. When she finally meets her mysterious Edmund, she discovers she never really knew him at all and he may be involved in her investigations...as a suspect.

Christian is the Marquess of Easterbrook. He's also a sensitive empath, able to feel the emotions of those near him. As a youth, he ran away to the Far East trying to escape the feelings and almost died. It was the meditative teachings of a Chinaman in Leona's father's household that saved him...along with the peace and quiet he found in Leona's presence. That peace and their friendship led to feelings of desire, but Leona was much too young and Christian was forced to flee for his life. But as soon as Christian catches sight of her in London, he knows his wait is over...she WILL be his.

This isn't a paranormal romance, yet the issue of Christian's empathic abilities is ever present in the plot. His purposeful withdrawal from attachments to preserve his peace is echoed in the author's hadnling of his character and dialogue. That made this story a bit different from Hunter's normal works and I actually found it more interesting because of that. Leona is another strong character who is certainly different from the normal historical heroine. The information on the opium issue and addiction wasn't pushed on the reader, but was nicely inserted as part of the plot. The passion is electric, the story flowed smoothly and I learned a few things I didn't know regarding the history of that time period. Time well spent! show less

According to the reviews I should have read #1 and especially #3 in the series. Book was OK on its own. Christian/Edmund was very much full of himself with his "I am Easterbrook" attitude so maybe the other books in the series would make me understand that attitude better. Liked how his problems were described from his ability to understand emotions to his solutions to opium addiction. Interesting that a Chinese book was used for inspiration on the sexual scenes yet it was still described tastefully. Glad that overall Leona tried to stay as a strong female for that time period.

I have been looking forward to this book for what seems like forever. Throughout this series I have been intrigued by Lord Easterbrook. He was so different from all the other characters and I couldn't wait to see what made him tick. Unfortunately it didn't meet my expectations.

I think the statement that Easterbrook makes to Leona, "I am Easterbrook" really defines the entirety of his character. He's troubled yes, but the issues he has are overshadowed by his arrogance and belief in his own superiority. On one hand I think this is a refreshing attitude. It's hard sometimes to suspend belief when nobility act like they don't have a sense of entitlement. I think it's more realistic to show a nobleman secure in his belief that people should show more do what he says just because of who he is. On the other hand it makes him aggravating. His arrogance starts to grate and you have to wonder why Leona is letting him walk all over her.

When I learned the reason for Easterbrook's reclusive habits I was intrigued. I was eager to see how the author would handle this disability. I never felt like that was explored though. There was no need to get a handle on it because it seemed like it surfaced in fits and starts. We're told that it's a constant battle for him to deal with it, but it wasn't an issue when it would be inconvenient to the story and only appeared when the author wanted to show Easterbrook's angst. I wanted consistency and a real look at what a struggle life must be for him. We got vague memories of a hard childhood and the bitter realities of being able to see into an unhappy home, but it wasn't enough. I couldn't help but feel that everything skimmed the surface and nothing really had any depth.

Leona was a flat character for me. I think she was supposed to be multifaceted with being torn between her longing for Easterbrook and her belief that her brother needed her, but it didn't work for me. When she decides she wants to be with Easterbrook forever she easily dismisses the earlier difficulties she had with leaving her brother to manage things on his own. The opium plot had the potential to be interesting, but it didn't work out. There were too many plots going on that there was no depth to any of them. I don't have many good things or bad things to say about Leona. She was just... there. Like furniture. There was nothing interesting about her.

I had a problem with Leona's character consistency. When Easterbrook makes the big reveal to her about his disability she's surprised. I find that very odd when multiple times before she gave the impression that she sensed him trying to probe her mind so she hid her thoughts. If she has felt that before and comments to herself on it, then why would it be shocking to find out the truth? Wouldn't it be more of an "aha!" moment to her? It seemed inconsistent.

The ending went out with a whimper instead of a bang. When the characters find out whom the villain is it's kind of disappointing. Instead of, "Wow, really?" it was, "Oh... really?" I think my problem with the book was the fact that so much was told, not shown. I wanted to be able to see the characters develop and fall in love. Instead I was told they were developing and that they were falling in love. Also, if there were fewer plots I believe I would have been able to focus on them more and become invested in the outcome.

Madeline Hunter is definitely a hit or miss author for me. I keep buying her because when her work is on for me I absolutely love her writing. I fall into the story and read for hours. Even though this book was meh for me I still admire the way Madeline Hunter turns a phrase. I think that she is a very skilled writer even when I am unable to become engaged by the characters and storyline. If this is your first book by Hunter and you weren't into it you might want to try another. She's very skilled; unfortunately it's only hit or miss. show less

This was kind of on the low end of 3 stars for me. I didn't dislike it, but it didn't give me a whole lot either. Nothing crazy, it just felt slow and the hero was more arrogant than I find attractive (and not just over things that his title effects, I'm willing to allow additional leeway on that sort.) And his, extreme empath ability or whatever it was felt a bit wobbly as well. Overall a little 'meh'.

I really liked this book. It flowed well and kept my interest. It was humorous at times as well. A delightful read.

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