Something Sinful is the third book in a series. Somehow I’ve missed the other two books, Sin and Sensibility and An Invitation to Sin, so the family members involved were a tad confusing at first. However, after the initial who’s who, I figured it all out, then sat back and enjoyed myself.

Charlemagne (Shay) Griffin has no plans to marry anytime soon. He’s seen his siblings tie the knot, but since he spends much of his time helping his brother Sebastian (the Duke of Melbourne) with his business dealings, all the while tending to his own business, he doesn’t feel he has much time to fuss over marriage. He has his eye on a shipment of Chinese silks for his next investment. While attending a London Society party, his eye falls on an exotic looking young woman who seems a bit out of place. After asking her to dance, and falling for her innocent questioning, he breaks his own rule regarding business, and reveals his plans to get the silks.

Lady Sarala Carlisle is fresh from India. Her father is a younger son who never expected to inherit the family title, but has now become the Marquis of Hanover. Her family never expected to return to London, and raised Sarala somewhat freely in India. London society is completely unexpected for Sarala, and her habit of helping her father with business in India is completely frowned upon in London. However, when she charms the information about the Chinese silks out of Shay, she cannot help but purchase them herself.

This situation sets Sarala and Shay in direct competition with each other. Shay cannot believe he lost his silks to a woman, and Sarala has plans for them, which do not include selling them back to Shay for the ridiculously low price he offered to her. However, as they continue meeting to bargain over the silks, their attraction cannot be hidden, and it turns into much more than a business negotiation.

Sarala’s mother is a social climber to say the least, and she has her sights set on the Duke of Melbourne instead of Shay. Sarala has no plans to marry into high society for reasons of her own. The situation spins out of control though, and what seemed a profitable investment turns dangerous.

I loved Sarala and Shay. Sarala is a different heroine; growing up in India gave her a different outlook and more freedom than a woman in London. She is smart and more than a match for Shay in business. Shay is a thinker and is meticulous in his dealings. No passion rules him, and his family considers him the logical one. When they discover his attraction to Sarala, they believe he has lost his mind, or that she is trying to trap him into marriage. For the first time in his life, Shay lets his heart rule his head and he cannot stay away from Sarala. If if he can only convince her that marriage is the best answer!

There is a villain here, but he seemed unnecessary and more of the wallpaper variety. Shay and Sarala’s story really didn’t need the added drama, in my opinion, but they handled themselves very nicely regardless. Suzanne Enoch always presents great characters, and this book is no exception. The icing on the cake, though, was reading something a bit out of the norm, and the India connection provided that. Obviously, I’ll have to pick up the ones I’ve missed as well!