New Release Review! MY SINFUL NIGHTS by Lauren Blakely (Sinful Men #1)

A sexy, emotional, heart-stopping romance novel from #1 New York Times Bestselling author Lauren Blakely…

Ten years ago, I let the love of my life slip through my fingers. It’s my greatest regret, especially since she’s all but disappeared. When she walks back into my world unexpectedly, I have one mission — win her back. Whatever it takes.

But the gorgeous, brilliant, tough-as-iron Shannon has secrets of her own, and a family past she’s trying to escape.

Slowly but surely, I break down her walls over our sinful nights together, with a connection more passionate than ever, an intimacy more fiery than it was before.

But the past can only stay behind you for so long. And when the people who want a piece of her family start circling her, I’ll have to prove I’m the man to protect her from her suddenly dangerous present.

MY SINFUL NIGHTS is a reimagining of the 2015 story SWEET SINFUL NIGHTS (no longer available for sale). MY SINFUL NIGHTS has been rewritten in first person with an entirely new romance for Shannon and Brent, new characterizations and new conflict in this second chance romance! THE SINFUL MEN SERIES includes the following titles: MY SINFUL NIGHTS, MY SINFUL DESIRE, MY SINFUL LONGING, MY SINFUL LOVE, and MY SINFUL TEMPTATION.

Review:

My Sinful Nights is the first book in Lauren Blakely‘s revamped Sinful Men series–the POV has changed (from multiple third person to multiple first–mostly the hero and heroine, but some chapters are from other characters’ POVs as well) and apparently the stories themselves have also been tweaked–I didn’t read the originals, so I can’t attest to how much is different; if you’re anything like me, though, and you read these when they first came out in 2015, you’ve probably read so much between now and then that it’ll be like a 100% new read anyway.

Or that could just be me…sometimes I struggle remembering who series characters are from books I read two months ago. (Or even less, to be totally honest.) There’s no such thing as too much reading, amiright? 😉

Anyway–My Sinful Nights is a second chance romance between Shannon/Shay and Brent. Their original romance ended ten years earlier; to be honest it ended in one of my least favorite ways–the big misunderstanding. Ms Blakely makes it work, though, because 1) they were only 22 and 2) there were definitely extenuating circumstances (long distance romance, demanding jobs, and honestly, they probably both weren’t really ready for a permanent relationship) so their “second chance” isn’t too much of a stretch.

I started this series backwards, reading the final (and brand new) novella first–because of course I did 😉 That book starts with a dedication for a new library, which, as it turns out, is in honor of Shannon’s father, who had been murdered when she was 13. All we find out about that in book 5 is that his murder case had been resolved–drama and some danger are hinted at, but nothing more. So I was perfectly safe reading that one and then starting from the beginning.

EXCEPT…this book ends with a major cliffhanger for the murdered father plot line, a plot line which is clearly going to continue through the other three Paige/Sloan siblings’ books. Which is why I essentially closed my ebook and went right to my Audible account, grabbing book 2 ( My Sinful Desire ) and downloading it into my Escape library. I see what you did there, Ms Blakely.

Other than that plot line’s cliffhanger, Shannon and Brent’s personal story does end in an HEA here. The pacing of it is a little unusual–they actually become more or less settled into their relationship (forgiveness achieved, past moved on from, I love yous exchanged, and a fairly permanent relationship status checked off) when there’s still more of the book left than is customary. The last 10+% of the book is free of relationship angst–HEA has been reached, and it feels like a really long epilogue (and since there are actual epilogues–yes, plural–it’s doubly odd). Stuff happens, but it doesn’t really have any Brent/Shannon relationship implications to speak of. So there’s that. Not a game changer, but different.

Either way, mission accomplished–because as soon as I’ve posted this, I’ll be back to listening to book 2. Ryan and Sophie, here I come!

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.