3.5 stars.

I liked it but not that much.. I felt no connection between Mary and Jack. Jack ans simon on the other hand had chemistry. ( )

Kate Pearce's spin off series, The Sinner's Club, is off to a scorching hot beginning with Jack Lennox's story, The Sinner's Club. Intriguing glimpses of Jack in the last book of the House of Pleasure series left me eagerly awaiting his novel and I am thrilled to say that it was well worth the wait!

Jack Lennox is next in line to inherit the family estate and title but a few questions about the previous Earl finds him going undercover to unearth the truth. He is also asked to look into Lord Keyes disappearance (an unresolved storyline from the House of Pleasure series) and coincidentally, Keyes' trail leads to the same vicinity. Jack visits his ancestral home in disguise and he is shocked to discover his elderly uncle was married to a beautiful young woman, Mary. Jack quickly learns that Mary is prepared to go to any lengths necessary to secure her inheritance and keep a roof over not only her head, but her brother Simon's as well.

As a child, Jack and his impoverished father led a vagabond life. Growing up, Jack learned to use any means necessary to make enough money to survive. Working as a government agent, he utilized the same tactics in order to obtain information from his enemies. This includes trading sexual favors and when he first arrives at the family estate, Jack is more than happy to continue this practice with both Simon and Mary. When his dream of finally putting down roots remains elusive, Jack returns to London where he continues searching for answers about Mary and Simon's past.

Mary and Simon share a very complicated history and there is much more to their relationship than meets the eye. They are carrying as much emotional baggage from their pasts as Jack and they are fiercely loyal and protective of one another. Mary and Simon are likable characters but they are difficult to get to know because their secrets are not fully divulged until the very end of the novel.

The overall story is enjoyable but it felt a little disjointed in the beginning and I kept feeling like I was missing something. About a quarter of the way in, the writing is much more cohesive and the information I thought I had originally missed about Mary and Simon is finally revealed. The second half of the novel flows more smoothly and is much easier to follow.

The sex scenes in The Sinner's Club are explicit, exquisitely detailed and plentiful. Jack and Simon share several steamy romps and while there is not an emotional bond between them, the encounters are quite meaningful for Simon. Jack also has an intense desire for Mary and their sex scenes are passionate and extremely erotic. Jack, Mary and Simon also indulge in steamy ménages that are so sizzling hot I am surprised my eReader did not melt.

The main storyline with Jack and Mary unfolds at a leisurely pace and is fully wrapped up by the novel's end. The secondary story arc with Lord Keyes remains tantalizingly unresolved (again!). I am also left wondering what the future might just bring for Simon as well.

The Sinner's Club is a must read for anyone who enjoys erotic historical romances. It is a steaming hot love story that is sure to be a hit with old and new fans of Kate Pearce. This first installment of the The Sinner's Club series is absolutely brilliant and I am eagerly anticipating the next novel. ( )

The Sinners Club by Kate Pearce
The Sinners Club Series
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 5/5 stars

Jack Lennox is tired of travelling, fighting and generally being unsettled. He is ready to claim his inheritance and with any luck at all, settle down on his family’s estate (Pinchbeck Hall) and find a partner to share a calm and quiet life with. To date, Jack has led both a horrible life as a kid with his father and a rather exciting and dangerous life as an adult and a spy. He is single, handsome and, has a legitimate claim to the title, Earl of Storr. The only real impediment to his claim is the presence of the dowager Countess of Storr, Mary Lennox and her brother, Simon. In an effort to fully assess the situation, Jack travels to Pinchbeck Hall in the guise of Mr. John Smith, secretary to the Honorable Earl of Storr, Jack Lennox.

Mary Lennox and her brother, Simon are absolutely willing to go to any and all lengths to secure their claim on Pinchbeck Hall. Mary, married to the late Earl of Storr is pregnant and should she deliver a son, her son will inherit the title and secure his mother’s future. So why then is Mary so nervous when John Smith (aka Jack Lennox) appears on the front steps of Pinchbeck Hall? Simon is even more nervous than his sister and quite angry at the presumption that anyone other than his sister should occupy Pinchbeck Hall. From the very moment he meets the two, Jack is convinced there is far more to the story than meets the eye. At the insistence of both Mary and Simon, Jack agrees to stay at Pinchbeck while he conducts his research. It doesn’t take long for Jack to figure out just how far the two are willing to go to secure their respective futures. Seduction is on the menu and it doesn’t just come from the dowager 

Jack’s time at Pinchbeck Hall is enlightening, entertaining, sexually stimulating and, confusing. His relationships with Mary and Simon (together and separately) take a multitude of twists and turns and it seems everyone involved has a secret they desperately want to keep. Jack’s contacts in London are constantly finding out new information about the Dowager and her brother which causes Jack’s opinion about them to shift frequently. He is intrigued by both and before long realizes he doesn’t want to see anyone hurt, least of all Mary. No one, including Jack saw this one coming.

The Bottom Line: Kate Pearce’s The Sinners Club took me completely by surprise at nearly every turn. I immediately fell for Jack Lennox and rooted for him from beginning to end. Jack is a complex and interesting character that evolved throughout the read and kept me wholly involved in his story. The plot is fascinating with claims to titles, secrets, some seriously naughty sexcapades and, characters that are at once despicable and likeable. Except Jack, he’s always likeable  The Sinners Club (the actual location and the book!) is completely fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable read. I heartily recommend this read to all 18+ (sexual situations!!) readers who enjoy period pieces, sexual naughtiness, finely written and interesting characters and, lovers of light mystery. ( )