Four years ago he married a Anna.  It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience but they had each fallen in love.  They never got to tell each other, however, as he was kidnapped, put on a ship and sent to Australia to live through starvation and torture.  He managed to escape, while getting all the others in the camp out as well, and now he’s back in London and ready for revenge on the man who had him kidnapped.

Anna knew that it was a marriage of convenience but she thought that feelings had been involved.  When her husband disappears right before they’re supposed to set sail to Paris on their honeymoon, Anna’s unfortunately, not surprised.  Her whole life people had been leaving her and while she expects it, it still hurt.  Not knowing where her husband has run off to, she returns to the island she inherited in Scotland and stays there for the next four years.  When she hears that her husband is back in London, and has been for the past nine months, Anna is pissed. He’s there spending her money and she’s ready to give him a piece of her mind.  She also demands an heir but what Anna thinks of as Liam’s sexual deviancy is actually Liam protecting them both from, what he believes, are the horrors of his body.

Liam was a good man.  He’d not always been so but when he married Anna he intended to be a good husband, especially after falling head over heals for her.  After his horrific ordeal he is a changed man.  He has some of the convicts he freed working for him in his house as he has a kind heart, but his brain is stuck on revenge.  When Anna shows up he tries to get rid of her, for her own good.  She refuses and then demands a child.  Still in love with her he agrees but wants to tie her up and blindfold her so that she can’t see or feel the scars on his body from years of torture.  This creates issues, of course.  Despite his thoughts of revenge he still loves Anna and in now way wants her around to get hurt.

Anna is stubborn to the core!  That woman knew her mind and wasn’t afraid to speak it.  I loved that about her!  She wasn’t shy and retiring and wouldn’t put up with Liam’s shit and that’s exactly what he needed to get himself out of his own head.  I loved the way she went about matters in the book and was proud of the woman that she became after all was said and done.

I admit it’s been a long time since I’ve read a Duran book so after finishing this one I decided it was the perfect book to be reintroduced to her writing.  The love, heartache and revenge that play the biggest roles in this story were written so well and I thoroughly enjoyed the book because of it.

Rating: 4 out of 5

This will post as a guest review on Book Binge.
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Meredith Duran has written a solid hot historical romance with an intriguing plotline. I loved how she brought about such a descriptive and colorful world. Liam and Anna were married but tragedy seemed to end their marriage too early. But what really happened. Read it in under a day and loved it.

Thanks Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books and netgalley for this ARC.

This book has a concept that carries over from a previous novel. It's horrendous but probably really happened back in those days. Anna has to make a choice to forgive or leave. This is one of the best tortured love stories out there today.

Liam Devaliant, fifth Earl of Lockwood, is a man with a mission: to see justice served and exact punishment on the man responsible for Lockwood’s abduction, imprisonment and torture. With the help of his friends Julian, Duke of Auburn (The Duke of Shadows), and Crispin Burke, MP (A Lady’s Code of Misconduct), he will achieve his goal, but his plan requires careful attention. He believes that he will have time later to consider his wife whom he has not seen since their wedding night almost four years earlier. He is confident that she won’t know he is back in England for at least a month.

When her husband disappeared on their wedding night, Anna Winterslow Wallace Devaliant, Countess of Forth and Countess of Lockwood, concluded that he had left her. Because being left has been a pattern in her life, Anna accepts that Liam is just another person she loved who abandoned her.  She retreats to her home on the Isle of Rawsey, but when she learns indirectly that her husband has returned, she goes to London, filled with anger over his abandonment, her weakness in loving him, and his failure to inform her of his return. To make matters worse, he has been in London for eight months, although she learned that fact only when she read it in a newspaper. What she finds in London adds more fuel to her anger.

For a variety of reasons, Liam is not pleased that Anna is in London and planning to stay in their house. He knows that the young man Anna married is dead, and he has no plans to tell her what happened to him. He cannot bear the thought of her pity nor the memories her presence evokes. There is also the problem of Lockwood’s fellow survivors, men who have no family, no resources, and no place to go except the home he has given them. Anna, ignorant of the true circumstances, sees them only as incompetent staff who need to be replaced.

The first words Anna and Lockwood exchange after their long separation are revealing.

He says, “You should not be here.”

She responds, “And you should be in hell. . . . Alas, few of us end up where we belong.”

Anna refuses to leave until she achieves her goal. As Countess of Forth, she holds a Scottish title that descends through her, and she wants an heir. Anna feeds her anger with reminders of Lockwood’s desertion, and he plays the role of the dissolute aristocrat, hiding his broken self from Anna. When he does tell bits of his story, he does so in a manner that convinces Anna he is lying. Although they share rare moments of passion and of connection beyond the physical, for the most part, they hold to their entrenched positions. But when Anna sees the brutal reality of Lockwood’s experience, she becomes his defender and champion, as determined as he to see the man behind his torment punished. But are the demons that haunt Lockwood too powerful to allow him to give and receive love?

The Sins of Lord Lockwood is the sixth book in Duran’s Rules for the Reckless series. It is the darkest and the strongest novel in an extraordinary series. Duran uses flashback chapters to show Anna and Lockwood’s meeting and marriage. The contrast between these younger, more innocent characters and the wounded survivors they have become is stark, making the wrongs done to them more heinous. Anna is independent, assertive, and frank. She demonstrates impressive strength while remaining a woman of her time and circumstances. Her love for Rawsey and its people is real, but, as she comes to realize, Rawsey has also served as refuge where she could hide from her pain. Anna and Liam are both damaged people, but his physical and psychic wounds are deeper and more pervasive than hers. Liam has survived hell and has been irrevocably changed by it. The loyalty he inspires in Julian and in his fellow prison camp survivors is a testament to his courage and honor, but he is a man who faces life without joy or hope. Anna’s presence forces him to realize that once his need for revenge is satisfied, his life will be without purpose. The battle he and Anna fight together to move him from mere physical survival to a rebirth as a full, functioning self is fiercer than his struggle with his enemy.

There are so many exceptional things about this novel that no one review could list them all. I loved the gender reversal with Anna as the one demanding an heir. I loved the way Duran handles the love scenes. They could serve as textbook studies on how to write a highly sensual scene that also reveals character, exposes vulnerabilities, and moves the story to the next level. And each one is distinct and exactly right for that moment in the story. I love than even in a book that is almost unbearably dark, there are flashes of light and laughter. And, as always, Duran’s prose is lucid and powerful. Perhaps to a greater degree than any author I know, her prose beautifully demonstrates the effect of simplicity and conciseness.  Note the preponderance of single-syllable words in Anna’s response to Liam’s shame over his scarred body and emotional punch of “triumphant” in contrast.

“You tried to hide them? Why, you should walk naked in the street to boast of what you survived.  Other men would learn then what it means to be a man – to survive all that, and to come home triumphant.”

And then she claims him: “You are mine and I am keeping you.” Not a wasted syllable. That’s good writing!

It is difficult for me to separate this book from The Duke of Shadows where Anna and Liam’s story begins and to which parts of this book run parallel. I think The Sins of Lord Lockwood can be read as a standalone, but I think the reading will be a richer experience for those who have read The Duke of Shadows, Duran’s debut novel.

If romance with angst is your preference, you do not want to miss this book. I confess that I had to take a break a few times when reading it became too difficult for me. I often choose the light-hearted over the darker romances, but I never miss a Meredith Duran book. This one required me to re-order my favorites by her, and it is a sure bet for my Best of 2018 list. If you like historical romance with complex characters, a compelling plot, and a total impact that leaves you questioning the claim that there are no perfect books, I highly recommend The Sins of Lord Lockwood.

I now have a healthy desire to seek out every book Meredith Duran has written. I absolutely LOVED "The Sins of Lord Lockwood." 

The plotline of the story wasn't exactly new, but the characters were what really made this story shine. 

Anna was magnificent. Quite often historical romances don't produce strong or particularly confident heroines but Anna was truly inspiring. There was one scene that really touched on the dilemma women face (i.e. how taking action, or not taking action, will impact women in the future) and it was handled beautifully. Anna was not wishy washy in her decisions and handling of herself. She knew her mind and did not waste a lot of time beating herself up about what she should or shouldn't feel.

Liam was just as inspiring as Anna. Duran's handling of Liam's PTSD was done tastefully and with knowledge. I can imagine how much more difficult it would be to have PTSD during a time when a diagnosis didn't exist. Feeling as if you are going crazy is par for the course. I liked the interaction and banter between Anna and Liam and I was rooting for them as a couple. Liam was just angsty enough to be interesting, but not so much that I was unable to see why Anna would love/fall in love with him. A fine line to walk and Duran did a great job.

Two things I would have liked to seen handled differently: 1. the flashbacks,  I thought were unnecessary. For example, there was a scene in the current timeline where Liam and Anna discuss a painting that I thought revealed just as much about the past as the flashbacks did and it didn't take me out of the story  2. I would have liked to seen more of Liam's plan for his betrayer fleshed out - revenge is supposedly what kept him going (at least in part) and it wasn't even really a secondary story happening alongside the romance. Not sure the guy ever got his comeuppance and that was rather unsatisfying, truth be told.

Overall, loved, highly recommend.

I loved this historical romance. This story was unique and deep. Liam, Lord Lockwood, is ruthlessly kidnapped on his wedding day and sent to a penal colony. Due to a misunderstanding, his new bride, Anna, does not realize her husband has been kidnapped and believes that he has abandoned her. He returns unexpectedly years later, a changed man who seeks revenge on the one responsible for his kidnapping. 

There were times of darkness in this book, including a realistic and sensitive portrayal of PTSD, that made the eventual resolution with love winning out seem especially satisfying. Anna was an especially strong and courageous leading lady. Liam was an appealingly complex hero, and a true Earl to root for. As a couple, they were well matched. There were sizzling and romantic moments between them. 

This story unfolded very well through the use of flashbacks. The true situation was slowly revealed, element by element. Although this is the sixth book of the Rules for the Reckless series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone.

I loved this book, it is a complex story with many layers that converge into an intense and gripping read.

The book opens days after William Dcvaliant, the Earl of Lockwood aka Liam marries Anna Wallace, the Countess of Forth (in her own right).  He is aboard a prison hulk being beaten, he was abducted and traded for another prisoner.  Later he realizes who orchestrated his abduction, his cousin Stephen and he vows revenge.

Fast forward 3 years, 8 months - Anna has left Scotland and traveled to London to confront her errant husband, he disappeared on their wedding night and she hasn't heard from him since.  But she learns he is back in England and is spending HER money and sponsoring artists in his London townhouse and she is going to set him straight.  She enters the house and there is a party in full swing, she is appalled by his servants and the debauchery going on around her.  She finds Liam on a sofa with a courtesan attached to him like a leech.  He rises to greet her and tells her to leave.  She refuses and tells him to send his "guests" home.  Liam is not in good shape, he took some drug to gain oblivion, but it has only made him muddled.  He can't believe Anna is here and needs to send her on her way.  She flat out refuses to go and wants answers - answers he is not willing to give.

Anna makes herself at home and takes every opportunity to vent her anger on Liam.  She has come to town to settle some business matters and to get answers - so far she has only more questions.  Liam is not the young man she married, but she sees glimpses of him.  Where has he been and why did he leave her?  The next day they talk again and he tells her what happened to him, but she thinks he is lying.  She makes accusations that he does not deny and she seethes. 

Liam doesn't want Anna in his home, he has put his plan into motion and she is a complication he doesn't need.  But seeing her again brings back something he thought he lost, feelings, he FEELS for the first time in years and feelings he thought gone forever. And when she demands he give her an heir and lays down her rules, he agrees, but has a rule of his own.  The passion between them is white hot, but neither is willing to bend and they wage a major war of wills.

Liam is no longer the young love-struck boy she married, the past four years have changed him, irrevocably. But Anna is no simpering maiden and she stands up to this new callous Liam.  And when she learns the truth, Anna will stop at nothing to save Liam.

The story has several flashbacks to their first meeting, their courtship, wedding day and the fight they had before he disappeared.  These flashbacks are well placed in the story and give the read a much better understanding of these two people. 

This is not a light read, but neither is it overtly dark.  It is a meaty, stick to your ribs kind of story with two very flawed people finding their way back to each other, it is a story of revenge, acceptance, forgiveness and love.  I was hooked from the first page, it is extremely well written and even with flashbacks, it is paced perfectly.  There are steamy love scenes, moments of heartbreak and sorrow, moments of horror, great secondary characters (including Julian and Emma), a shocking twist and a very sweet epilogue.  This is the sixth book in the series, but it could be read as a stand alone title with no problems.  I loved this book and would be happy to recommend it!

Lord Lockwood is a (literally) tortured soul, and the way back to sanity, if its even possible, seems to lead to his condemnation as a murderer.  Little surprise, then, that he doesn’t want to drag his wife into the hell of his life.  Anna, Lady Lockwood, though, has another view on matters, and she is more than a match for her husband, once she has all the facts in hand.

Duran writes adventure novels par excellence, and this is no exception.  You won’t be disappointed by the sparks between Anna and Liam, either.

Publisher's Description:

Steamy romance sizzles between a resurrected earl and his repentant bride in USA TODAY bestselling author Meredith Duran's latest historical romance.

BACK FROM THE DEAD, AN EARL SEEKS VENGEANCE...

Liam Devaliant, Lord Lockwood, was born into a charmed life. Charismatic, powerful, and wild, he had the world at his feet—and one woman as his aim. His wedding to Anna was meant to be his greatest triumph. Instead, in a single moment, a wicked conspiracy robbed him of his future and freedom.

...BUT WILL HIS LONG-LOST COUNTESS PAY THE PRICE?

Four years later, Liam has returned from death with plans for revenge. Standing in his way, though, is his long-absent bride. Once, he adored Anna's courage. Now it seems like a curse, for Anna refuses to fear or forget him. If she can't win back Liam's love, then she means at least to save his soul...no matter the cost.

My Thoughts:

This is another page turning must read by Meredith Duran!
The Sins of Lord Lockwood is book # 6 in the Rules For The Reckless series and the second one I have read in this series
Both books were amazingly well thought out with strong characters and page turning storylines.
.
Liam Devaliant, Lord Lockwood, had just married the woman he had set his cap for but instead of the joyous occasion it should have been it turns disastrous. Liam's cousin, Stephen carries out a plot to make our young Earl disappear. He has him abducted and sent to a penal colony where he is beaten and imprisoned. Liam's identity and all that is dear to him is taken away but he finds a way to eventually escape and return home.

Anna, Liam's wife thinks he has purposely abandoned her., while Stephen, his cousin, insists that Liam is dead. If Anna will have him declared dead Stephen will inherit the title and all that Liam holds dear.

Four years later Liam's returns and Anna, after discovering his return comes to London to join her husband. She is a most unwelcome surprise.

Will Liam be forthcoming about the lost time between them? Will Anna forgive his forced absence and can these two find their way back to each other?

I gave this book 4.75 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 4.5 of 5.0 flames. Although he is haunted by the last four years, Liam wants his wife in every way but doesn't want her to see his scars.

I received a complimentary paperback and digital copy of this book from the publisher to read and review.
This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

The Sins of Lord Lockwood is amazing.  These two strong people were meant for each other.  Lockwood having been kidnapped on their wedding day with Anna thinking he left her due to an argument keeps you turning page after page to find out how this happened.  Anna and Lockwood are so very in love, but pride is keeping them from working this out upon his return.  Lockwood is convinced he is no longer worth anything except to seek vengeance for his kidnapping.  Anna is so hurt and not willing to let him get away with having abandoned her until she realizes he did not choose to leave her.

I love their strength, the way neither gives quarter to the other.  It truly does take Anna’s strength to keep them together once she sees and believes what he has told her about those missing years.  Liam Lockwood and his servants lived through the most horrible of conditions at the penal colony.  Ms. Duran handles the difficult situation carefully and in a respectful way when Liam suffers through the memory attacks.  She is careful to assist the reader in knowing it is not Liam's fault the dreams and/or attacks are his fault.

Complicating Liam and Anna's relationship is her being the wealthy Scottish Countess of Forth heir to an entire island.  This caused a bit of difficulty on their wedding day and even after his return.  Their marriage contract allowed them to live separate lives.  She thought he left on their wedding day because he now had access to her funds.  To make it even worse, once she learned he had walked off of the boat to take them to France, she did not even search or have the authorities search for him.

The secondary characters being the ‘servants’ Lockwood brought back with him from his travels are an interesting group of men and so much a part of his story.  They do not give up on Liam, either.  His servants do what they can to help protect Lockwood from his wife and from himself when in a nightmarish condition.

The Sins is a really good book that deals with the difficulty of the era when one person wanted to get rid of another.  The cousins growing up together, being raised together, but coming into adulthood with such differing views of their childhood is hard on both cousins.  This is not a light-hearted or feel good book, but it is an excellent one in sharing with you the devious nature of an evil person.  Great book to read.

I don’t think I’ve ever met a Meredith Duran book that I didn’t like. This one is – WOW – just WOW! The story is riveting, heartbreaking and inspiring. I haven’t read the other books in the series and I don’t think that detracted from my enjoyment of the book. However, I’m heading straight out to purchase all of them because I think that background into the characters will add to my memories and enjoyment of this book – plus I’ll have five other great books to read. I was really afraid that this book was going to be dark – and I just don’t do dark – but it wasn’t. Our intrepid author dealt beautifully with the dark events that led to this story. She told us what happened – in small manageable chunks – but she didn’t dwell on it. The story she told us was the aftermath of those horrendous events, how our hero and heroine dealt with them and how they grew as individuals and as a couple. Kudos to Ms. Duran!

I loved our hero from the very first page. He was a happy, charismatic young man with impoverished estates due to his father’s mismanagement. He had to find a wealthy bride, but not just any bride would do. Then, he meets our heroine and he is lost. I really loved our heroine for the way she was in the early part of their courtship. She was intelligent and funny and full of self-confidence. At least you thought she was. She loved our hero – and he loved her – even though neither had told the other. They spent months together getting to know one another – the kind of people they were. So, when the chips are down – she just accepts that he’s left her and makes absolutely no demands that people search for him. I don’t buy it. Even if she really thought he’d left her – wouldn’t she question that he walked off with nothing? He didn’t take his belongings – nothing. No, I just can’t buy it. I know our author did her best to explain it all, but – still – I don’t buy it. I absolutely LOVED the book – just didn’t buy that part. Of course, not buying that part kind of negates the rest of the story.

William Alexander Knollys (Liam) Devaliant, fifth Earl of Lockwood, was handsome, charming, intelligent, honorable, loving and the world was his to command – until it wasn’t. Liam disappears on his wedding night. He and his new wife had a tiff and he headed out to the tavern – and never returned. Four years later, he is back. He’s in London and set on revenge. When you read the book, you’ll wonder why he was as patient as he was! He’s been in London for almost eight months and he knows that his wife will soon learn of his return and he’ll have to deal with that. Imagine his surprise when she turns up at his door – and she plans to stay!

Anna Winterslow Wallace, Countess of Forth is the rarest of things – a countess in her own right. However, she cannot inherit one part of her inheritance, the island of Rawsey, until she is married. She’s been looking for a suitable candidate over the last couple of years, but just can’t find a suitor she can picture being leg-shackled to. Then, at a house party, she meets Liam. She’s determined not to like him – after all, he is English and she is a Scot through-and-through. He’s just so engaging and funny that she can’t help herself. She’s in love! Anna has been left behind her whole life – by her father, by aunts who shuffle her from one to the other – can she really have found someone to be hers?

Liam and Anna love each other, but each falls back on their excuse of a marriage of convenience because they are afraid the other doesn’t return their feelings. What a mistake that lack of sharing is! When Liam leaves and doesn’t come back – Anna just assumes he’s left her. Four years later, when she arrives in London to confront Liam, she is shocked at the cold man she meets. She wonders why he is the one to be so cold – she is the one who was left behind while he was off adventuring for four years on HER money. As she learns more of what has happened to Liam, and there is an attempt on his life, she knows she has wronged him dreadfully and she realizes she still loves him. How can she help heal the darkness in him (today we would call it PTSD) or can he be helped at all? 

I hope you will read this well-written, fast-paced, gripping and poignant book. You will be transported to that time and place and won’t be able to put it down.

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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

The Sins of Lord Lockwood by Meredith Durand
 First time reading this author but it won't be the last!  Anna and Liam marry for their own reasons. Liam disappears on the day of their wedding and stays gone for four years. Why did he leave? Will He and Anna be able to save their marriage? Get The Sins of Lord Lockwood and find out. This book is well worth reading.

Meredith Duran is an ambitious writer and always interesting. I loved some of her books; I hated more of them. In the end I appreciate that she takes risks because when the plot work, the story is amazing. 

Lord Lockwood (Liam) had been kidnapped the day he got married and sent to a penal colony in South Wales for three years. He is back bent on revenge - very Count of Monte Cristo like. All the time he was gone, his wife thought he abandoned her and decided to travel the world on his own. Their marriage was a marriage of convenience, where she needed a husband to take control of her inheritance and he needed money to pay off his debt. But it was clear that they were falling in love and had hope for a good marriage. 

A plot based on a lack of communication would normally annoy me. But Ms. Duran really made it work. Liam did not want to reveal anything to Anna because he did not see a future anyways. His reluctance to let her see his scars was based on self-preservation. Anna also was not ready to show her feelings because she did not want to be left and hurt again. So we get to know the characters and see their emotions and relationship grow. The story is interspersed with flashbacks from their first meeting and the weeks before the wedding, giving some lightness and making our heart break for the separation. 

The book does have flaws. The premise (a lord kidnapped and brawling with prisoners) is ridiculous the revenge arc did not go anywhere for a while. But the strength of the main characters makes up for it all. And we got to see more of Julian and Emma from the Duke of Shadows. And did I mention that I love the writing? I am going to read it again.

This story enthralled me right from the first page. The characters of Liam and Anna are beautifully written. They are complicated and intriguing and I wanted to know more about their background as much as I wanted to read the romance. The story is a little darker with the hero’s history but I adore the scenes where the heroine teaches the hero about self love and forgiveness. Usually in romance novels, this role is reversed and played by the hero but I love how the author has written this part in the story. I would highly recommend this book. Although this book does have some characters show up from previous books, it can definitely be read as a standalone. 

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

4.5 stars

This feels like an instant classic.  The Sins of Lord Lockwood dovetails with Duran’s debut, The Duke of Shadows, and sheds light on the story of Ash’s friend, Liam, and Liam’s estranged wife, Anna.  The story is told in alternating timelines, showing flashbacks to how Liam and Anna first met, leading up to his dramatic disappearance on their wedding night. In the present, Anna confronts Liam after his sudden reappearance, believing that he had abandoned her. Rather than sharing the truth of his horrific experiences — being kidnapped and shipped to an Australian penal camp where he suffered unspeakable physical and mental torture — Liam does his best to keep Anna at a distant and scare her away. What results is an intense battle of the wills, which makes for very compelling reading. 

Duran manages to very successfully strike the right balance with Liam and Anna’s angsty struggles. While Liam’s stubbornness and nastiness to Anna could be a massive turnoff, Anna doesn’t accept any crap from him and turns the tables on him quickly to take control of their relationship. I was frequently surprised (in a good way) by how the story developed, which made it even more enjoyable. The exploration of Liam’s PTSD and panic attacks, which he tries to handle in secret, also added an interesting layer.  

Overall, this is very well written and compulsively readable. I definitely recommend it to fans of intelligent and slightly dark/angsty romances.

Thank you to Pocket Books, Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

Liam had everything a Lord could want, except money.  He married a bold Scottish lass named Anna, and their future seemed bright, until he was kidnapped and sent to a penal colony.  Anna is heartbroken, but because the marriage was supposed to just be one of convenience she just went back to Scotland.  Four long years later, Lord Lockwood is finally home, but he is not the man he used to be, but that won't stop Anna from getting what she has always wanted from this marriage.

This is so much more than just a historical romance, it has everything you want and more in a story.  Strong characters, an exciting plot, angst, mystery, and most of all white hot chemistry between Liam and Anna. Wow, I loved these characters.  Liam is mysterious and brooding, all that he has endured and the scars that he bears makes him that much more intriguing and sexy.  Anna is outspoken, honest, and strong, she is definitely a character to admire.  I also enjoyed the flashbacks to when Liam and Anna were courting, I think it added much needed levity to a very intense story.

This is the second book I have read by Ms. Duran and I am now an ardent fan and will be reading the rest of her books.  Her writing is sublime.

A good Historical romance with of lot of emotion and angst.
Lian & Anna are good strong characters.
Loved the drama and passion.
Voluntarily reviewed.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review.  The Sins of Lord Lockwood is an angsty story about a couple who planned a marriage of convenience, but end up with so much more.  Told in sections alternating between current day and 4 years prior, Duran slowly reveals how Anna and her husband Liam, Lord Lockwood met and the events that led to their four year separation on their wedding night.  Anna grew up with a father who was in and out of her life and spent her youth shuffling between aunts; the one place she felt a sense of belonging and happiness was on her grandmother's island in Scotland.  Due to family superstition, the island couldn't be Anna's until after marriage; as her guardian neglected the island, she decided that a marriage of convenience was her only option.  Upon his father's death, Liam found that he needed an large infusion of cash to save the family properties; as he and Anna get to know each other, they determine that marriage will solve each of their problems.  After a fight on their wedding night, Liam leaves for air and never comes back; used to being deserted, Anna is convinced that Liam left after getting what he wanted and doesn't look for him.  Four years later, Anna hears that Liam has arrived back in London and travels to confront him and demand an heir.  Liam's four years away were hell on earth; kidnapped and transported to Australia, he suffered abuse and degradation on a daily basis.  Finally making his way back to England, he is convinced that he is not fit company for his wife and is ashamed for anyone to know of his experiences.  Despite his attempts to push her away, Anna's reaction when she learns what happened to him is far from what he expected.  I loved Anna's determination to fight the battle to win Liam's soul and save him from his demons no matter how much he attempted to push her away.  Duran does a wonderful job portraying the conflict and sense of shame Liam feels for his experiences during his captivity.  I can't say enough good things about the writing and characters other than read this book - you won't be disappointed!

"A man can learn to live for revenge."

FINAL DECISION: At times dark and sad, this book is ultimately about the ability of the human spirit to endure and ultimately triumph. A wonderful companion to THE DUKE OF SHADOWS, I loved Liam and Anna's story.

THE STORY: Liam Devaliant, Earl of Lockwood, was kidnapped on his wedding day and sent as a prisoner to the colonies. He has returned a changed man bent on making the man who betrayed him pay. What he doesn't expect is the arrival of his bride who believes he deserted her on their wedding day. The four years that have passed have made Anna bitter.  The two talked of a marriage where each would be free, but she did not expect her groom to disappear without a wedding night. Anna, however, does have something she needs from Liam and is determined to get it and then return to her home in Scotland.

OPINION: Powerful, emotional and sometimes dark, this is the story of a man who lost everything and how the love he left behind brings him back.

I loved this story become of the complex emotional heart of it. Anna and Liam lost so much four years ago. The structure of the book makes this especially poignant by intermixing the story of their courtship with their current reality. The switching between these time periods brings emphasis on the pain of their separation.

Liam is an honorable man who is struggling. Seeing the difference between the man he was four years ago and the man he is now is sometimes difficult. The way the book is written puts the reader in the same place as Anna who has to discover who the man she married is. He is a wonderful hero who centers this book.

Anna is strong-willed and independent and yet vulnerable under the face she shows others. That is another theme of this book, the faces that one shows. As Liam and Anna both discover the complexity of one another. That no face is false, but rather an aspect of character. But that there is a face that only can be shown to the one you love.

I alternately found this book sad and triumphant. While these two were torn apart, they manage to find their way to one another and build something different and perhaps stronger than what they would have had four years before.

Some characters are so vivid and fascinating that it is hard to close the book on them. Anna and Liam are those kinds of characters to me.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book deals with what we now call PTSD in a complicated and sober fashion.

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE SINS OF LORD LOCKWOOD is the sixth book in the Rules for the Reckless series. While the romance is separate, I recommend reading A LADY'S CODE OF MISCONDUCT and then a related book THE DUKE OF SHADOWS because this book flows nicely from those two books.  The events of this book run somewhat concurrently with THE DUKE OF SHADOWS.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

NOTE: I received and ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to prepare this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

Review to be published on February 27th.

This was my first time reading a book by Ms. Duran and she didn't disappoint. Liam and Anna have such a chemistry. When the two of them end up together after so much time apart, I loved how strong willed Anna was. This is definitely a book of misunderstandings. I will be reading much more of Ms. Duran's books.