One Little Sin
Sir Alasdair MacLachlan is a typical ne’er-do-well with a penchant for drinking, gambling and sleeping with other men’s wives, until one morning when the beautiful young Esmée Hamilton shows up on his doorstep with a baby—her half-sister, Sorcha. Their mother is dead, and they have been cast out by Esmée’s stepfather because he is not Sorcha’s father. Alasdair is. The details of her story sound all too credible, although Alisdair was drunk the night in question and remembers little. Despite his flaws, he won’t throw an orphaned toddler out into the street, but he cannot care for Sorcha himself so he begs Esmée to stay on as governess. Esmée loves her sister too much to leave her. Moreover, she is lonely and bereft. Although aware her reputation will never survive, she agrees. Will the rake corrupt the sharp-tongued, down-to-earth governess? Will her innocence reform his jaded heart? Will they fall in love? Well, this is a romance. But what makes this enjoyable despite a rather predictable outcome are the twists and turns the plot takes to get there. The main characters are pleasant to follow in their quest for honor and love. Moreover, Alasdair’s brother and best friend are promising personalities to star as heroes in the planned Regency trilogy.
