New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling
Author
SINS OF SEVIN
(A standalone)
Release date 9/21/2015
A Contemporary Romance novel
by
Penelope Ward
From New York Times bestselling author Penelope Ward, comes a
new forbidden STANDALONE romance!
What happens when the one you want is the only one you can’t have?
My name is Sevin.
Homeschooled and sheltered by my ultra-religious family, I was always taught that lust was a sin.
Elle was the girl who’d been carefully chosen for me.
After a long-distance courtship, I’d be moving into her family’s
guesthouse so that we could get to know each other in the months before
the wedding.
Boundaries were set: no inappropriate touching, no kissing, no sex before marriage.
I’d accepted those rules and my fate.
Until I met the one I wanted to sin with.
That was when restraint became a problem…especially since THE ONE wasn’t Elle.
It was her sister, Evangeline.
You know what they say about best laid plans.
My name is Sevin, and I have sinned.
**Told in alternating points of view, Sins of Sevin is a full-length
standalone novel. Contains graphic sexual content and harsh language.
Only appropriate for adult readers age 18+.
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SINS OF SEVIN EXCERPT
Copyright © 2015 by Penelope Ward
He quietly followed me into the dining room, carrying the
flatware. The tension in the air was thick as he walked behind me around the
oval table, setting down silverware after each plate I’d put down. It was like
some weird game of musical chairs where awkward silence replaced the music. The
hairs on my back stiffened. We weren’t saying anything, but it was as if I
could feel the weight of a thousand words along with the heat of his body so
close behind me.
When I noticed he’d just put a fork where the spoon was
supposed to go, I switched it. “The forks go on this side, actually.” My hand
was shaking. I couldn’t believe how little control I had over myself.
Noticing my nerves, he suddenly placed his hand over mine
and whispered, “Stop.”
Chills ran through me. My heart started to beat faster. My
nipples hardened. I hated my body for responding to him with equal amounts of
fear and lust.
I turned to him, his hand still over my knuckles. It felt
like I couldn’t breathe as he just looked at me.
My mother’s footsteps caused Sevin to move his hand off mine
with lightning speed.
Mama entered, and we continued setting the table as if our
stolen moment hadn’t happened.
4.5 stars
When finishing
Sins of Sevin, I needed to step back,
reflect and regain control over all my emotions. I was a blubbering mess.
Wow… Holy freaking WOW! This was not a hearts and flowers type of
romance. It was a soul crushing experience. Penelope Ward powerfully ruled my
emotions while commanding me to experience all of her characters’ pain, sorrow,
torment and passion. Ward is known for her intense reads, so I knew going in
that I needed to brace myself for the ride. As far as wreaking havoc over all
my feelings, she has out done herself. Sevin and Evangeline tied me in knots
and my nerves were shot. This was definitely one of those stories that you actually
feel.
My heart and sympathies belonged to Sevin. His life was so painful, it hurt
seeing all his sorrows. At first, Sevin gave me the “bad boy vibe” despite that
fact that he was isolated from the real world by his overly religious parents.
But digging deeper, I saw a troubled, misguided guy who felt unworthy and
unloved.
At one of the lowest points in his life, an opportunity presented itself, giving
Sevin a chance to turn his life around and away from his oppressive stepmother.
He agrees to a “business deal” - prearranged marriage to Elle and a job in her
father’s company. A new start and courtship offer Sevin hope. However, all his
good intentions unravel when meeting and instantly falling hard for Evangeline.
(GASP! Elle’s sister) Realizing his heart and love belonged solely to
Evangeline, Sevin tries to right his wrongs… His efforts led him to heartache,
causing my gut to wrench.
Sevin had sinned. He had betrayed. He broke promises. I did not consider him a
cheater, per se, for his heart never belonged to Elle. This is not a love
triangle situation; his feelings towards Elle were never romantic, acted upon
or heartfelt. Normally, I steer clear of cheaters. However, seeing that his
love for Evangeline was true, I found myself adoring Sevin regardless. He was
worthy of love and happiness.
I couldn’t
help but feel sorry for how each agonizing blow threw his life deeper into
chaos. His true sin was falling in love with the wrong sister, and he paid
dearly for it. He’s beyond sweet, patient and kind. I felt Sevin was a little
too forgiving of Evangeline’s misguided decisions. For all the turmoil she
caused, and how he managed to survivor each one of her sins, I almost
considered him saintly. He was a man who was desperate to right his wrongs. And
it’s these reasons he redeemed himself in my eyes.
Evangeline… She was not an easy character for me to come to terms with. In the
beginning, I found her to be a sweet, free-spirited girl. But, she quickly
frustrated me. I give her credit for trying to fight off the attraction because
she truly loved her sister. I do not
fault her for giving into her desires; she was destined to love Sevin. I did
however blame Evangeline for lying, making really screwed up choices in her
life, and hurting Sevin over and over again. Her actions created so much angst
to the story line it was maddening – sending my anxiety levels sky-high. My
mind tried to rationalize her choices, but my emotions were too frazzled over
the way she shredded Sevin to pieces. Nonetheless, by the end of the read, I
found myself pitying Evangeline for everything she lost due to fear and naivety.
It’s undeniable that the sexual tension and chemistry between Sevin and
Evangeline ran incredibly high. From the moment they met, I knew they were
destined for one another. I craved for Sevin to hold on tight to Evangeline,
discover a way to obliterate all obstacles, and find happiness. Sevin was just
as sexy as he was sweet and I loved seeing their stolen romantic moments. Once
all the drama settled and lies were revealed, I wished for their healing to
give them enough strength to persevere. They truly were soul mates in every way
and deserved a ‘happily ever after’.
If you are a
fan of highly emotional, gut wrenching ‘tear your heart out’ kind of romance, Sins of Sevin is the perfect read.
Penelope Ward is an exceptional writer who has the amazing ability to grab hold
of her readers, take total control of their emotions while twisting and turning
them at her will. Sevin and Evangeline’s journey was by no means easy. It was
painful and unbearable at times to witness. However, digging deep, I found the
beauty in their love – and the ending had me in bittersweet tears. Ward
certainly knows how to tell a difficult story filled with lust, drama and love.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
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Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 10-year-old girl with autism and a 9-year-old boy. Penelope and her family reside in Rhode Island.
Other books from Penelope Ward
Cocky Bastard
Stepbrother Dearest
Gemini
Jake Undone (Jake #1)
My Skylar
Jake Understood (Jake #2)
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