Too Sinful to Deny-Erica Ridley

Too Sinful to Deny
Erica Ridley
Zebra, Apr 5 2011, $6.99
ISBN 9781420109948

Embarrassed by their daughter’s inane behavior, Lady Susan Stanton’s aristocratic parents agree to exile their offspring to rusticate in the countryside. Thus Lady Susan is sent from London by her ashamed family to live with her father’s cousin at Moonseed Manor in Bournemouth on the coast.

Susan arrives at Monseed but her paternal cousin is missing. She and smuggler Evan Bothwick meet and are attracted to one another, but his quest is to find out who murdered his brother Timothy. Meanwhile she assumes her cousin is dead while her ability to talk to ghosts ever since an icy dunk in the Thames leads her to believe the spirits are all disgruntled. After consulting with Timothy the ghost, Susan investigates his death, the smuggling activity and what happened to her cousin while the crooked magistrate wants her to leave for London immediately.

The latest Eric Ridley Regency tale (see Too Wicked to Kiss) is a super historical paranormal romance that grips the audience once the heroine reaches her exile destination. The story line is fast-paced as intrepid Susan talks to ghosts, which leads to her inquiry. Although the romantic subplot remains rightfully for the most part in the background, readers will enjoy touring the smuggler’s coast with whimsical Susan as our guide.


Harriet Klausner