Sinful

By: Joan Johnston

Narrated by: Julia Gibson

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

After a tragic accident leaves Delta sergeant Connor Flynn a widower, he faces the toughest fight of his life: battling his in-laws for custody of his two young children. To win he'll need a make-believe bride to take care of the kids while he runs his Wyoming ranch. Who better than a woman he already knows and likes - his late wife's best friend?

Ruthlessly forced from her home by her powerful father King Grayhawk, Eve needs somewhere to go... and so does the herd of wild mustangs she's rescued. Connor's offer sounds like the answer to a prayer. But Eve has a guilty secret she's guarded for years: She's always been in love with Connor. Now forced to live under the same roof as her heart's desire, Eve must hide the love that has never died, while Connor vows to resist his growing need for a woman who was forbidden fruit during his marriage.

Can two lonely people set adrift by fate and haunted by guilt find redemption in the healing embrace of love?

©2014 Joan Mertens Johnston, Inc. (P)2015 Recorded Books

Sinful

Enjoyed this book very much! Julia Gibson is the best narrator ever! She keeps excitement in her beautiful voice!

Starter book

There are lots of characters introduced that aren't important for the story, hard to keep track of the different dynamics. The author introduces so many characters there isn't a lot of plot and the hero and heroine have not a lot of character-developement.

Complex as Hell

Sinful is the first book I've read by Joan Johnston, an engrossing yet convoluted story about 2 very complex western families (complex as in you need a family tree to understand who is related to whom). There was no mention in the book's description about this being part of a series, but according the author's website Sinful is number 15.

While I enjoyed several of the female characters (smart & sassy), I didn't buy into the main plot about Connor's custody battle. As an active serviceman, Connor had the right to give temporary guardianship of his biological children to another party while retaining all of his normal parental rights. Imagine if every parent in the military could loose his/her children while serving their country - no happening!

The whole family feud seemed pretty extreme too, since it seemed to start over a nasty divorce 50+ years ago. The Flinn and Grayhawk children & grandchildren may have been easily influenced as kids but as adults in their 20s and 30s they just seemed immature, allowing 2 bitter old men to manipulate their feelings/actions. The retreat for retired veterans was a nice touch, and much more appealing than family grudges.

I did like that Eve and her sisters had interesting, non-typical jobs (wildlife photographer, smoke jumper, ranch manager) and didn't take any crap from men their age. Likewise, the brothers were generally respectful of women - no bullies, no physical violence. Maybe if I had read the first 14 books, I might have enjoyed Sinful but it was too difficult to keep track of 20+ characters who were never really introduced.

Love Joan johnston but this isn't my favorite.

I didn't enjoy this as much as l of Joan Johnstons books. It dragged s bit for me.