2.5 stars

I'm torn when it comes to this book, yes that cliffhanger ending did make me really want to know what happens next but at the same time I don't really care much about any of the main characters and I had a lot of issues about the way their relationships are being handled so far.

Belle went through a traumatic experience as a teenager when her father brutally murdered her mother and then killed himself, she found their bodies and is still dealing with that emotionally. She never believed her father was the killer and she's now become a detective, assumably in the hope of investigating her parent's deaths. The two love interests are Xander, who has been a friend and protector since her parents died and Sin (aka Alex), the police lieutenant who trained her and who is still her boss.

The two men are best friends, are both aware of the other's interest in Belle and seem to have come to some arrangement between them years ago that neither will take that any further. Yet now they're both making moves at the same time, are aware the other is making moves too and don't seem to have any issue with that (this attitude and the cover lead me to believe there are threesome potentials from this series) until right near the end when they get all alpha male and possessive and pretty much want to fight each other for her. It all just seemed so stupid, especially when you realise they've both been perving over her since she was only 17 (they're both at least 10 years older) and just waiting for her to be old enough to be ready for them.

Belle herself is full of contradictions, she's ridiculously naive in some ways yet we're supposed to believe she's a fully fledged detective at just 26. It's hard to believe she could find her way out of a paper bag, let alone make detective at such a young age. There were plot holes and contradictions in the storyline which didn't help but my biggest issue was a spanking scene that was completely lacking in consent. I will NEVER understand why author's think it is sexy for a hero to spank a girl for "breaking the rules" when she isn't in a relationship with him and never agreed to any rules in the first place! I'm more than happy to read a spanking scene in a BDSM story where everyone has agreed the rules and knows exactly what they're getting into but that couldn't be further from what happened in this book.

I already have a copy of the second book in the series so I'll probably give it a try just to see how things turn out after that cliffhanger but the author is going to have some serious work to do to get me on board with Belle ending up with either of these men, let alone both of them!

Katherine Hawthorne has done it again. She's captivated me with her characters, her settings and the STEAMY situations throughout this book. Can't wait to continue reading this story..MORE MORE MORE

2.5 stars.

Okay, this was just...weird. This is basically a love triangle with suspense and threesome vibes thrown in, and I thought I was going to love it. But, the way this was executed was kind of strange and off.
For one thing, the romance/love triangle was totally overshadowed most of the time by a case that Belle and Sin (as well as the rest of their squad) are trying to solve. Not to mention other shit that Belle went through six years earlier. And I just didn't really care about any of it.
Now, onto the romance. Sin and Xander have a very odd relationship with each other and with Belle. Both of them do sexual things with Belle throughout the book and are aware of the fact, plus there is a threesome-ish scene towards the end, but it's not until the last few pages that Sin and Xander seem to have a problem with it and start fighting over Belle. Also, the spanking scene made me kind of cringe bc consent wasn't all that clear IMO. I was also just annoyed that sex never happens in this book, just plenty of oral sex for Belle, which isn't the most exciting after a while.

I'm gonna read the next installment bc I have it on my kindle and there was a cliffhanger, buuuuuuuut I'm not excited about it.

What a tale! Belle, Xander,Sin and Belle end up in a relationship with secrets and lies. Investigating a murder leads Belle to danger. Belle is attracted to both men, how will she choose? Both men decide on a course that will lead them all on new adventures and into uncertain danger. A good read with a cliffhanger.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and am leaving a review.

I highly enjoyed this book. I loved the relationship between the characters and that Belle wasn't a pushover and didn't just take the guys' crap. Will definitely be picking up the next one soon. (i.e. I've already picked it up and am dying that the third isn't out yet.)

Sinful is a brew of romance, mystery and suspense. This book grabbed my attention from the first page and I burned through it in one sitting. It’s full of twists and turns and with an ending that left me wanting more. Can’t wait to read the sequel to find out what happens next.

Many thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I want angle to download book so cannot review. Had difficulty with net gallery from first day. Now I am able to download with no problem..
But that doesn't help for this book that I was looking forward to reading. I

~ Up in flames ~

Sinfully sweet Belle ends up between two best friends Alex and Zander after six years of fighting her way to become a detective with the NYPD. Any relationship other than a professional one with Alex, her Lieutenant, would be taboo. And crossing the line with Zander, the man who has always been there after saving her from a disastrous fire was not supposed to be in her cards either. But she just cannot seem to make herself not be pulled by their powerfully sexual pull.

This is a fast-moving & steamy read, all the way to the cliffhanger ending. The suspense keeps rolling from the club shooting event, with developing connections needing to be questioned, and Belle trying to keep her lust and mind clear all the while hunting down the party responsible.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of Sinful (from NetGalley). All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a good read, though not what I expected at all. With much more depth of character and plot, this novel series has begun to deliver a deeper reading experience for those who enjoy this type of book. I am already in the middle of the second one and I hope I can read the entire series in quick succession. I really need to know how this unorthodox relationship pans out! (My only complaint is that the young lady is always in need of rescuing, but I know that is probably one of the main points of the series.) Thank you to NetGalley and Katherine Hawthorne for the ARC!

This is the first time I am reading this author and I will gladly read more from her in the future. Her writing was flawless and smooth. She kept me turning the pages just to see what would happen and I can't forget those sex scenes..HOT! Great story, can't wait to read book 2.

Sinful is the first book in the Sinful surrender quartet by Katherine Hawthorne. After a night at a ball for the new NYPD Police Commissioner Elizabeth Sullivan goes back to her suite only to find her parents dead in an alleged murder/suicide. After being hounded by the press in the following weeks culminating in an attempt on her own life where she was only saved by the prompt actions of Zander Phoenix, Elizabeth disappears from the public eye only to re-emerge 6 years later as Isabelle Saint, an upcoming detective with the NYPD working directly under Lieutenant Alex “Sin” Sinclaire. Isabelle only has one aim and that is to find out who murdered her parents. When she is personally involved in a nightclub shooting was she the intended target? Has someone discovered who she really is or is it simply a case of wrong place wrong time?

This is the first book I have read by this author and it won’t be the last. What more can a girl ask for from a book that gives us the whole package – crime, an intriguing mystery, romance, heated encounters, domination and submission and not forgetting a love story. A feisty, impetuous heroine who in her own eyes is more than capable of looking after herself although luckily for her she has not one but two alpha men with little to chose between them, to thwart her at every turn, ready to stop her rashly running headfirst into danger. There’s a mystery surrounding Zander. Surely he can’t simply be a tax lawyer and why did he pull strings to have Alex protecting Isabelle at work? Isabelle is torn. How can she be in love with one man but feel such desire for a second despite professing to hate him? How can she choose? Or does she really have to? Can two strong men learn to share? I have so many unanswered questions about this book that I can’t wait for the next instalment.

I love the book and i would recommend this book to ages 18 and up. Awesome book. i will not give out any infor about the book

Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC of Sinful (Sinful Surrender Quartet Book 1) by Katherine Hawthorne for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

I give it 4 stars.
I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the cover and the story was well written and quite captivating at times. Better than expected.
I will read book 2 soon!

Review shared online.

I am volunteering to leave a review of this ARC book from NetGalley. Oh my word! Or should I say oh my, Ms. Hawthorne's words! This book was FANTASTIC! Suspense, intensity, intrigue, strong heroine, strong heroes! Amazing plot! This book kept me on my toes, or rather, glued to my seat! So glad I have book two on my my Kindle right now waiting for me! Can't wait to get to it!

Orphaned by a tragic occurrence at the age of seventeen, Belle has set herself one goal in life---to prove her parents were murdered and bring their killers to justice. Six years later, with that purpose in mind and her education behind her, she joins the NYPD and distinguishes herself as a rookie detective. Again, tragedy finds her when she is barely escapes death when a friend takes the bullet aimed toward her in an apparent terrorist attack at a nightclub celebration. Anxious to solve that crime, she is frustrated to the point of insubordination when Sin, her boss, pulls her off the case for own safety. To her dismay, she finds she has two powerful protectors who are determined to tame her and keep her out of danger. Sin, and his best friend, Xander. But how can they keep her out of trouble when she finds she has growing attraction to both men?
Katherine Hawthorne has crafted a suspense-filled erotic romance that captures you from the start. By the time I had finished the second chapter, I could not put the book down. Right from the start, she pulls the rug from under Belle—literally throwing her right into the fire. She comes close to losing her life in a ski cabin fire. But the girl becomes a feisty woman, one constantly at odds with two breathtakingly handsome Alpha males who are determined to restrain her for her own good. There is always the threat that is she doesn’t behave, she will lose her job with the NYPD. And if that were to happen, there would be no hope of ever capturing her parent’s killer.
Belle first encountered the man who would later become her boss when she was seventeen years old. Even then she recognized Sin as “drop-dead gorgeous in a tuxedo that couldn’t quite hide his powerful build, he exuded strength and masculinity.” They both had to fight their attraction for each other. If they ever gave in, they could both lose their jobs and everything they had each tried to attain. It was definitely a lose-lose proposition.
Xander only complicated the situation. Sin’s best friend since childhood, they had often squabbled over the same girl. But this was a conflict that stretched the limits of their friendship. Xander had taken over the responsibility for Belle’s protection from his father, a powerful politician who had stepped in after her parents had been killed. As far as he was concerned, Belle was his.
The question was, who did Belle want? Sin, she hated, but could not resist. Xander, she loved, but could not trust. Was it possible she could have them both? How could something like that ever work out?
A real page-turner. Katherine Hawthorne is adept at suspenseful, as well as sensual, description. My only complaint was that the characters where too much alike. Written in first-person, the viewpoint changing, chapter by chapter, I frequently found myself several pages into the chapter and needing to refer back to the chapter head to know who was narrating. Nonetheless, this was definitely a five-star effort!
I should point out that the book ends in a cliff-hanger. Fortunately, the second book in the series is already available. If you haven’t yet obtained the first, you might just as well get them both at the same time.

Sinful by Katherine Hawthorne was a very detailed and involved story. Well written with all sorts of twists and turns. I am new to this author and with the cliffhanging ending, I am interested in finding out more about this story.

Sinful by Katherine Hawthorne is book one in the Sinful Surrender Quartet series. This is the story of Alex Sinclaire, Xander Phoenix and Elizabeth Sullivan aka Isabella 'Belle' Saint.
Elzabeth's parents were killed...she was told it was a murder / suicide, but she feels different about it. Then shortly after there was a fire and she sure that wasn't a accident either. Now a few years later she is under the new identity of Belle working under Alex a man who help with her new life. Xander also has been a part of her life. The attraction to both men have been a struggle. Both are powerful and protective. But there is the mystery of who she thinks killed her parents and a new threat going on. This is a somewhat dark romance with two love interest for Belle and does end with a cliffhanger.

Sinful is my first book by this author and I am hooked! What an riveting story from beginning to heartstopping end. I am obsessed and can't wait for the next book in the series!

A new to me author. A spicy storyline. A great plot with a lot of twists and turns. Book one in the Sinful Surrender Quartet series, look forward to reading the next in series.

WOW This book rocked my mind!

I was looking to read something fun and easy going to take my mind off the flu-bug I am currently fighting.

This looked a good option - two alpha males with a female on the cover, what more could I want?  I was NOT expecting the thrilling storyline.  The shocking opener had me gripped and I couldn't put the book down until the final page.

The story includes violence, crime, police procedure, mystery and of course anticipation, dominance, submission.

I was confused at times as both the male characters have similar names but once you get into the story it kinda works.

As this is the first part in a series it does leave many unanswered questions. Can't wait to get into book two!

Thank you to NetGalley, BooksGoSocial and Katherine Hawthorne for the opportunity to read and review this novel.