Apr
Sinful Pleasures by Mary Reed McCall
Review By: Stacey Agdern (NYStacey)
Book: Sinful Pleasures
Author: Mary Reed McCall
Author�s Website: http://maryreedmccall.com/
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: June 2006
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Sinful Pleasures, by Mary Reed McCall is many things. It is the second book in her Templar Knights Trilogy. It is also the first(and certainly not last) book that I’ve read of hers. But at it’s core, Sinful Pleasures is the story of the redeeming power of love set in the middle of a chaotic time in history.
Damien DeAshby is a man with a great deal of pride, and not much else. A Templar Knight, battered but not broken by the inquisitors, he is freed from his captors by a mysterious benefactor–who turns out to be the woman who once captured and stomped on his heart many years before. Lady Allisende of Surrey is a woman trapped. She is convinced that the only way to avoid the attentions of the Kings favored(Allisende’s own second cousin), is to enter into a marriage by proxy with Damien-the only man she ever loved. But after a disastrous marriage(which seemed to end under unsavory circumstances), her heart…is as bruised as Damien’s.It falls to MRM to describe the difficult path these two must take to love and true freedom. It is a complex story filled with heated sex scenes(even one…dare I say it,…outside 
and wonderful historical detail. You don’t need to be an expert on the history of this group of honorable knights in order to follow the story, because MRM is able to seamlessly weave the information in with her story(as well as paint a beautiful picture of a Medieval Tournament!), but I read Sinful Pleasures after having read one of the books MRM actually used as a reference(The Templars by Piers Paul Read for those who are interested).
Ahhhhh…I got up late (a combo of staying up too late because of an unexpected phone call and my darned snooze alarm!) and don’t have time to post my full behind the scenes this morning. I so sorry! I will definitely stop back asap, when I return from Albany.
In the meantime, anyone who’d like to post a question or comment for me about this book - please do. I’m planning to tell you a little bit about my original conception of Damien, and if I can find it, I’ll even post the one paragraph “concept synopsis” of Damien and Alissende’s story, that I used to sell the story idea to my editor….so you can see what remained the same and what turned out different from its original conception.
Before I go - thank you so much, Stacey, for such a lovely set up of the conflicts and characters of this story. I had no idea that you were going to be doing the review (or I would have been even more nervous, knowing as I do that your reading of my book would be following your reading of the Piers Paul Read text, LOL). I’m thrilled that you enjoyed the tournament scene…and Damien and Alissende’s “picnic” was one of the only love scenes I’ve ever added during the revision stage (i.e. after my editor had read the manuscript and sent my revision letter). I know Irene is particularly partial to that scene, LOL (and lest anyone think otherwise, Damien is “hers”!, hee hee)
Ok, have to dash…see you all soon!
–MRM
April 20th, 2007 at 4:47 amquick history question: Were many of the Templar Knights released? If not, what was their fate? How many died? How many survived?
Great review, Haven… I am so curious about everything you hinted to~!
April 20th, 2007 at 6:24 amGreat review, Stacey! Welcome to our neck of the woods.
Mary, I am eagerly anticipating your behind the scenes for this book! I’m telling you–I might not be able to wait until The Templar’s Seduction releases before I start this series. They sound sooooooo good!! Especially after you said Irene is partial to a picnic scene. And we all know that we should listen to Irene.
Mary, one question…How do you pronounce Alissende? Is it pronounced similar to Allison only with an “end” instead of “on”? Does that make sense? lol Thanks!
April 20th, 2007 at 6:43 amStacey, welcome to RI and a million thanks for doing the review for Sinful Pleasures, and what a review it is! Awesome, fantastic review!
Mary, looking forward to that concept synopsis you mentioned. Have a good day in Albany.
And we all know that we should listen to Irene.
Andrea, I know exactly what you’re talking about. Speaking of Irene, where is she? Irene!!! Your coffee is waiting. lol
April 20th, 2007 at 8:05 amOh, I totally want to see this synopsis thing. I’ll be waiting! Have fun in Albany.
April 20th, 2007 at 9:14 amLaura, based on the last book, which I’ll review tomorrow, I can answer some of those questions.
Stacey, thank you so much for joining us and giving us this wonderful review!
April 20th, 2007 at 3:05 pmYay - I’m home!! Had a fabulous time at SUNY Albany and reconnected, in fact, with one of my old profs. The events of the day reminded me once again of the old “fire” I have inside to teach English lit. So for my students, my day spent away from my own classroom will benefit them immensely.
Ok, now onto your questions…and my mini-synopsis for Sinful Pleasures, that I included in the original Templar series “pitch package”…a full explanation of which I will save for one of my blogs.
Lauara said: “quick history question: Were many of the Templar Knights released? If not, what was their fate? How many died? How many survived?”
In reality, only a handful of knights were “released” - and those all in countries other than France. Most Templars in France died in prison (from torture or the deprivations of their imprisonment), were burnt at the stake (any who recanted their original “confessions” - delivered after being tortured, were summarily put to death as “relapsed heretics”…the Grand Master Jacques de Molay among them), or were sentenced to penance of service/confinement to a monastery or with another Holy Order.
The number of Templars who went “underground” isn’t known. Most of them who did seemed to have escaped to Scotland during the course of arrests (in France, and then as the Pope was compelled to issue his “bull” of investigation and then ultimate suppression but never condemnation of the Order as a whole, by 1314). Scotland was the only country to openly welcome any Templar who could make it across her border - because Scotland’s king, Robert the Bruce, was suffering himself under papal excommunication, for having killed a rival nobleman on Holy ground. I’ve got a part of my Author’s Note from The Templar’s Seduction devoted to that.
All right - now onto my “mini-synopsis”. It’s actually almost three paragraphs, not one (the old memory is playing tricks with me, LOL). But it’s still really, really brief. I did end up writing a much more involved, full synopsis (of almost 30 pages, typed, double-spaced) that I sent to my editor and worked from when it came time to write the actual manuscript for this story…but you can at least get a glimpse of my early concepts of Damien and the plot he would have (as well as see how I altered it, if you’ve actually read the completed book). Here it is (with what I had originally conceived as the series title, as well as what the title of Book II would be…all of which clearly changed by the time everything went to print.) Previous to this in the “packet”, I’d had a full outline of the series, the Templars as historical figures, and Richard’s full synopsis for Book I:
>
So that was it! What do you think? Can those of you who’ve read this book see where I changed it (and maybe discern why?) The core of the story remained true to my vision - and Damien himself remained exactly like you see him here from the moment I conceived him to the moment I finished writing his story (as did Alex, from his original conception to the finished character…I may play around with plots, but it all starts with a character for me *G*).
Anyway, I’ll be glad to chat aobut this or add any other info that has you curious. I’ll try to stop back again later tonight. Thanks to all of you for you comments thus far. This has been a lot of fun for me, too!
–MRM
April 20th, 2007 at 4:48 pmAhhh! It blanked out my entire mini-synopsis! Here it is again. Hopefully this time it will go through…
“Book Two
In Honor and Passion: The Templar Knights “TEMPTED”
(This book will center on lost innocence, reunited love, and coming to terms with deep physical and spiritual wounds)
The hero of this book is Damien Ashby, Alex’s younger brother. He, too, had been captured by the French Inquisition on the night of October 13th, in part because of his devotion to the Templars; he’d refused to remove his distinctive white surcoat with the crimson Templar cross emblazoned on it, and it had been proof positive of his guilt to those pursuing him.
He, of all the four Templar heroes, is the most pure-minded and good. He is the youngest of them, sinfully handsome – angelic, even – and before his capture had been devoted body and soul to the Templar cause, willing to risk his life in any battle for the sake of God’s glory.
As a young man, Damien had suffered the pangs of rejected love, which had prompting his decision to join the Order when he was just 17. Now 24, he is a much-changed man. Not only has he been emotionally ravaged, but he was horribly tortured by the Inquisition as well, to the point that, like many of his brethren in similar circumstances, he’d confessed to anything they asked of him in order to make the pain stop. Along with his physical scars, therefore, he bears the guilt of his own weakness; to save himself he had denied the truth and the Holy Order to which he’d intended to devote his entire life.
When the book opens, he is free from his imprisonment, but his emotional state is such that he only mingles with others when absolutely necessary. He has taken up a hermit’s life as a woodcarver. His soul has been shattered by his experiences and he no longer has any belief in himself, in humanity, or perhaps even in God, and feels he has nothing to live for…
Until the beautiful woman who had spurned him in his youth comes knocking at the door of his simple cottage, begging his aid, both as a former Templar and as the man who had once loved her. Then Damien must confront the past and learn to live and love again, or else be destroyed forever by the forces of darkness at work inside of him.”
Fingers crossed that it worked this time.
–MRM
April 20th, 2007 at 4:50 pmMRM wrote: (and rightly so) “and lest anyone think otherwise, Damien is “hers”!, hee hee”
Hands off—Damien is MINE!!!
That’s all I’m saying—for now.
(Yes, Irene’s late again.
)
April 20th, 2007 at 5:13 pmOh - I forgot to answer Andrea’s questions about Alissende’s name. It’s definitely a French name that was used in the medieval period (I found it in a list of names from documents of the time and really liked it. It’s feminine and yet distinctive - or at least I think so!). A French-speaking friend of mine told me it’s pronounced “Alice-ond”, with the emphasis on the “ond” (and with the “ond” pronounced with a soft, rounded, almost nasally “o” sound).
That sounds pretty complicated, LOL. Does it help, though?
–MRM
April 20th, 2007 at 5:37 pmIrene said: “Hands off—Damien is MINE!!!
That’s all I’m saying—for now.”
LOL, Irene…that’s what I tried to tell everyone!
–MRM
April 20th, 2007 at 5:38 pmWelcome back, Mary! To quote Lacey, “at the risk of sounding like a broken record” I cannot begin to tell you how much your visits here during review have helped me. Not only have I expanded my “keeper” shelf to have a your books, but the aspiring writer in me has been inspired by your posts.
Until the beautiful woman who had spurned him in his youth comes knocking at the door of his simple cottage, begging his aid, both as a former Templar and as the man who had once loved her. Then Damien must confront the past and learn to live and love again, or else be destroyed forever by the forces of darkness at work inside of him.”
Aaah, “the call to adventure” which will lead to “refusal of the call” *Isabel scribbles on her notebook* This is good, Mary, very good.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:09 pm** I meant to write great review Stacey~! :)….
Thanks for all of the info on the Templars… it is all so dark. fascinating- but very dark.
April 21st, 2007 at 9:09 amMary, thanks so much for that pronunciation of Alissende’s name. I wanted to be sure of it before I started that book…especially since I was pronouncing Aileana’s wrong.
April 21st, 2007 at 2:05 pmHi Stacy (Irene’s waving madly) it’s great to “see” you here—very nice review. I also wrote a review for this book on Amazon—I loved this story. Damien’s my honey!
MRM wrote: I’m thrilled that you enjoyed the tournament scene…and Damien and Alissende’s “picnic” was one of the only love scenes I’ve ever added during the revision stage (i.e. after my editor had read the manuscript and sent my revision letter). I know Irene is particularly partial to that scene, LOL (and lest anyone think otherwise, Damien is “hers”!, hee hee)
And what a WONDERFUL addition it was—a perfect example of a revision that works! MRM’s stirring narrative of that “delicious” scene is firmly embedded in my brain.
Yep, Irene is particularly fond of that picnic scene, and as I’ve said before—Damien can “feast” on me anytime!
Andrea wrote: I might not be able to wait until The Templar’s Seduction releases before I start this series. They sound sooooooo good!! Especially after you said Irene is partial to a picnic scene. And we all know that we should listen to Irene.
Oh yeah Andrea, you SHOULD listen to me…Don’t wait! I’d never steer you wrong. That picnic scene was…well…Mmm, Mmm GOOD! Hee, hee!
MRM wrote: So that was it! What do you think? Can those of you who’ve read this book see where I changed it (and maybe discern why?)
Yes, I noticed several changes that you made from the synopsis, to the finished book.
In her synopsis MRM wrote: he was horribly tortured by the Inquisition as well, to the point that, like many of his brethren in similar circumstances, he’d confessed to anything they asked of him in order to make the pain stop. Along with his physical scars, therefore, he bears the guilt of his own weakness; to save himself he had denied the truth and the Holy Order to which he’d intended to devote his entire life.
Damien was horribly tortured by the Inquisition, but I don’t remember him confessing to them or trying to save himself by betraying the Holy Order of the Templars. I distinctly remember him vowing to never let them break him—to fight them until his very last breath. Though after being released from his ordeal, Damien angrily turns hid back on the church—after all, it was “supposedly” religious men who had tried to force a confession out of him by cruelly torturing him, in body and mind—I don’t think he had anything to be guilty about.
Damien was so pure of heart and valiant, noble honorable too—he embodied all the characteristics of a true HERO—and you don’t read too many romances with characters like him in them. It’s the very reason why I liked him so much.
AND MRM wrote this… When the book opens, he is free from his imprisonment, but his emotional state is such that he only mingles with others when absolutely necessary. He has taken up a hermit’s life as a woodcarver.
This was different too. The book opens with Alissende and the challenges she was being forced to confront: the threat of a forced marriage to a harsh violent man; the Earl of Harwick or against her better judgment, permitting/accepting an arranged marriage to someone capable of defending her against him.
She can’t believe her cousin suggests she (by proxy) marry Damien—the man Alissende once loved and still truly cares for, but had publicly spurned and humiliated. She thinks Damien must hate her, but when she learns he’s being held captive by the Inquisition and being tortured, quite possibly to death and realizes she has the power to save him— Alissende’s choice is made.
AND MRM wrote this… Until the beautiful woman who had spurned him in his youth comes knocking at the door of his simple cottage, begging his aid, both as a former Templar and as the man who had once loved her.
She never actually “comes knocking at his door” or “begs” for his aid, but she uses her money to arrange for his rescue from the French prison and the subsequent care to make him healthy again. After he is well, he’s informed of his marriage by proxy and when he’s actually brought to the home of his new “wife”—he is shocked to learn it Alissende.
I think you made these changes because they created bigger or more conflicts/struggles for the characters and a very plausible ones. They both needed each other, but Alissende’s “saving” Damian’s life after rejecting him and causing him to join the Templars in the first place—was very fitting. After how she so callously trampled on his heart, and truly devastated the idealistic young Damien—as the reader, I don’t think anything less would have worked for me. Her effort at atonement, I think, made her a more compassionate and likable heroine. Damien—My Honey—of course had all my sympathy from the beginning.
(MRM, hopefully my comments are better late, than never.)
April 21st, 2007 at 2:39 pmThis book was fantastic Damian is so hot and I agree that picnic seen is the best. Keep them coming Mary they are fantastic books.
April 21st, 2007 at 4:28 pmHave Fun
Helen