Series: Sinclair Brothers (Book 3)
Gray Sinclair has spent a lifetime doing exactly as he pleases--and women are one of the things that please him most. But a fiery Scottish lass is determined to show him that indulgence has a price, and it's time this handsome libertine pay...
The Devil's Due
With four protective older brothers, Bonnie MacTavish has had little experience with romance, but she has no intention of being seduced by a black-hearted English scoundrel whose devilishly wicked smile tempts Bonnie to forget he's been charged with murder. Yet when Gray's shrewd determination provides him with the means of escape from his cell--taking Bonnie with him--she learns that this charming outlander cannot be the murderer her brothers believe him to be. Gray is no ordinary pirate, but rather an extraordinary and haunted man--one who deserves her help. If only she can convince him that the greatest adventure is love...
Good conclusion to the Sinclair Brothers series. Gray is the pleasure-seeking brother, the one with the biggest reputation as a rake. But he has left that behind at the moment to take on a quest that could save the family home. Unfortunately, a storm has interrupted that quest, damaging Gray's ship. While his crew takes on repairs, Gray spends some time drinking in a Scottish tavern and finds himself accused of murder. His accuser - a red-haired Scottish woman with a temperament that matches her hair.
Bonnie is the youngest in her family, with four very protective older brothers. Her mother died when Bonnie was born, and it was her brothers who mostly raised her. Thanks to them, she dresses and fights like a man, and has no problem standing up to her brothers. Bonnie is engaged to the laird of a neighboring clan, a marriage arranged to bring an end to a long-standing feud. She's not thrilled with the match, but family comes first.
I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Gray and Bonnie. There are sparks between them from the moment they met. Gray is entranced by her spirit and her beauty, even though she is responsible for his captivity. Even though his circumstances are dire, he can't resist flirting with her, delighting in stirring her up. Bonnie doesn't understand why Gray has such an effect on her. But she can't deny the sparks, nor can she deny her growing doubts about his guilt in the murder. When she resolves to set him free, she ends up kidnapped by Gray and dragged along on his quest.
I loved seeing them together on the ship. Bonnie starts out fighting Gray at every step. She can get quite creative as she does everything she can think of to make her point. But eventually they reach a turning point, and Bonnie begins to see another side of Gray. Once she stopped fighting him, she realized just how attracted she was to him. She also began to see past the surface rogue to the vulnerable man underneath. I loved seeing her try to break through his barriers and show him that she cared. I hurt so much for Gray. As the book went on, we learn so much about the heavy burdens he carries. The horrible things that his mother told him, that tear at the very fabric of who he is, make him believe that he is not worthy of anyone's love. It was so hard to see Gray continually push Bonnie away, even though he loved her so much.
The events on the island gave Gray's protectiveness quite a workout and reinforced Bonnie's love for him. There were times when I thought she had finally gotten through to him, but something would always pull him back. I was on the edge of my seat as they made their escape, and wondering how it would turn out. I did not expect their rescue by the person who found them, which added another layer of trouble to what was already there. Though Gray's quest was over, his troubles are not. Being returned to Scotland to face the music there put Gray right back where he started. This time, however, Bonnie is on his side, though she also has some battles to face. I loved seeing her stand up to her brothers to care for Gray. She is also determined to find the truth about the murder and to find a way out of her engagement. Her pursuit of the truth puts her in extreme danger, and the final confrontation has an unexpected twist to it. Gray gets a surprise visitor, whose arrival is perfectly timed. I loved the eye-opening (and amusing) conversation between the two of them, and the difference it made to Gray's entire outlook.
I enjoyed the prologue and epilogue, which took place thirty years in the future of the main part of the book. Gray is still a charming rogue, and I loved seeing what had become of him. The epilogue portion was terrific and an excellent wrapup for the series. Several parts of it had me laughing out loud.
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