Sloth: The Fallen Earl

Seven Deadly Sins

A ruined lady. A reluctant lord. One scandalous night that changes everything…

Miss Cressida Alby has spent her life as a mere shadow in society, a poor country squire’s daughter with no prospects and even less hope. But nothing could have prepared her for the night she’s put up for auction at The Devil’s Den. Just when she believes all is lost, salvation comes in the form of Benedict Adamson, the Earl of Wakefield—the very man she’s secretly adored from afar.

Wakefield is a man of honor, a gentleman bound by duty and the need to restore his family’s tarnished name. A reckless moment of defiance—one night with Cressida—changes everything. Now, he must choose between the life he’s meticulously built and the woman who has unwittingly captured his heart.

Can love defy society’s expectations, or will their forbidden passion be nothing more than a fleeting dream?

Reader Reviews

Can love defy society’s expectations, or will their forbidden passion be nothing more than a fleeting dream?

a must read!

There is a lot going on in this story. Very steamy. Their story is about secrets, trust, and love. It was a good read and I look forward to more books in this series.

Annglez

Couldn't Put it Down!

Amazing! Could not put this book down! Loved the chemistry between the 2 main characters. Books like this is what makes Christi Caldwell my favorite author!

Karen Oakes

Pleasantly Surprised

This book had a lot going on in it and it was very well done and different than a lot of regency/georgian era that I’ve read. Many times the women in this era find themselves in precarious positions, but usually not quite as fraught as the situation Cressida finds herself in... While miscommunication is the foundation for the conflict, it’s no wonder Cressida kept details of her situation to herself. She had no reason to believe that she would be believed or stood up for.

Christi Caldwell is very good at highlighting the difficulties different women faced during this time period and handles it as well as possible while staying true to the time period and giving her characters as much agency in the end as she can.

Katherine Arent

Excerpt

Chapter 5

Last night had been unlike any other night before for Bennett Benedict, Adamson the Lord of Wakefield, but then nothing had been ordinary since he'd had his heart broken by his former best friend, Marsha.

He'd spent so much of his life being good and trying to uphold the family image, something he was still deeply committed to, but he'd also allowed himself to explore past times he never had before.

Then, there'd been the invitation to join his brother-in-law's new business as a partner, Wakefield dealt in numerous amounts of business. The railways. Coal. Advancing technologies. Banking. He thought, hell, why not invest in the greatest industry in the entire British empire? Drink, women, and wagering.

Now, his first venture into his new investment, had been like no other pursuit he'd ever engaged in before. Maybe that's why he found his head so muddled at this very moment. Staring dazedly, staring confusedly at the wide-eyed luminescent creature beside him.

In the light of a new day, with sunlight streaming through the cracks in the velvet curtains, the sun toyed with her curls, a waterfall of dark blondes and pale browns. It was her eyes; however, it was her eyes that scared the everlasting hell out of him.

They were the eyes of a woman and enamored. Panicky, he found himself moving quickly to the other side of the bed. The lid, quiet creature, just continued to stare at him with those enormous eyes of hers.

"Good morning," she greeted him softly. The day had come, and her voice contained the husk of sleep, but not the sultry quality of the night before when he'd first entered the room and found her waiting eagerly for him.

"Morning," he said gruffly. Swinging his legs over the side of the bed so his back was presented to her, he fished about for his garments. As he did, his gaze frantically skidded around the hardwood floor, garments all littered all over the floor. That diaphanous number he'd hastily removed from her body. The lace garters she'd worn, which he had removed with his teeth.

No. A woman with her bedroom eyes who'd moved the way she had and been so passionate in his arms should absolutely never, ever, ever wear a look of adoration for a man she'd only just met and spent the night with.

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