Into Temptation [Mass Market Paperback]

Lady Sophia Aberley swore to have nothing more to do with Julian Rexley, the young lord who once broke her heart and left her to face down a scandal all alone. But fate has conspired differently, for when the earl's younger sister flees from her guardian and turns up on her doorstep, Sophia finds she is powerless against being drawn into Rexley's life once more.

Julian Rexley is fit to be tied when he discovers that his sister Laetitia is in the clutches of that jaded fortune hunter Sophia Morelle, the very woman who once staged being caught en flagrante delicto with him in order to trap him into marriage! Unfazed by the failure of her scheme, the greedy wench soon turned around and landed herself a wealthy Marquess instead. And to add insult to injury, the heartless doxy penned an "anonymous" tell-all book about the whole sordid affair, and even had the temerity to send Julian a signed copy!

This forced reunion between Julian and Sophia has all the earmarks of disaster, but will seven years of harboring hurt over deceit and betrayal melt away in the burning light of their love? Or will their bitter rancor begin anew?

What worked for me:

I thought that giving both main characters a knack for the literary was an excellent notion. By reading each other's work, Sophia and Julian were able to gain more insight into the other's true thoughts they might have had otherwise. The little quotes from Sophia's book, which opened each chapter of the story, were delightful. And Julian's poetry, which heralded Sophia's curves as being more beauteous than Eden, was lovely.

The sexual tension was rather good, but better still were the actual love scenes, which were at once both hot and tender. Every woman should have praise for her figure lavished as sweetly upon her as Julian did Sophia's. This book is a keeper just because of those scenes!

Size-wise Sophia was voluptuous-going-on-plump. And like most women she had her concerns about her lover seeing her body, especially her breasts which sagged slightly from their weight.

What didn't work for me:

There was a bit more enmity between the hero and heroine than I usually like in my romances, but readers who appreciate a challenging, hard-to-win-over hero will find one to adore in Julian. (For the most part, I liked him. But he really was being a bit of a dolt when it came to handling his 24 year old sister, who, spoiled brat though she sometimes appeared to be, did deserve at least some say in what to do with her life.)

Overall:

"Into Temptation", with its elegant prose and sizzling sexual tension, is a delicious treat for fans of Sensual Regencies. Be sure to indulge yourself in it this Valentine's Day!

Warning: there are some steamy scenes and coarse words in this book.

If you liked "Into Temptation" you might also enjoy "Suddenly You", "The Accidental Bride", "The Bride and the Beast", "The Fire-Flower", "The Last Days of a Rake", "Unmarriageable", "Cat and the Countess", "The Courtship", or "Enchanting Pleasures".

Sophia, felt even more betrayal and returns his sentiment and she herself, wrote a scathing book modeled after him. Still, she has formed a very real friendship for his sister Letitia and Julian's sister has found a champion in Sophia who commiserates with her that Julian is acting like a bossy beast who only wants to control his sisters every move. Julian arrives at Sophia's, now a widow, insisting that Letitia leave with him, but she refuses unless he allows Sophia to accompany her as her companion. Sophia refuses, until her wicked brother-in-law attempts to force himself on her. Julian not only saves her from rape but realizes she was frightened of Charles and was not his lover as Charles tried to let Julian think. Julian also begins to wonder why the dowager Marchioness seems to be living in near poverty.

This was a very emotional love story - so very many missed opportunities because of youthful pride. The lead characters were wonderful - both so similar in that they were both published - he as a poet and she as an author. I truly enjoyed their story and was deeply moved to tears towards the end. What I felt held this back from a higher rating was the lack of closure to the storyline of Sophia's brother-in-law, Charles who figured so prominently in the beginning and was a major catalyst in turning Julian around into a protector for Sophia than the protagonist he was in the beginning. I kept waiting for a retatliation that never came. All things aside, that one fault does not stop me from highly recommending this book as an engaging and highly enjoyable read.