Never Resist Temptation
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Product Description
Jacobin de Chastelux was bound and determined to take charge of her own life. When her uncle loses her in a card game, Jacobin does the only thing she can: flees. She's finally able to put the skills she's learned to the test, hiding out in a noble's kitchen and making delicious pastries. But her freedom is short-lived when her uncle is poisoned by one of her desserts! Forced to flee or be arrested, Jacobin seeks refuge at the last place anyone would suspect - with the very same man who had won her. Now Jacobin must work twice as hard to keep her secretand her heart.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Born and raised in France (although English on her mother's side) Jacobin de Chastelux returns to England after her parent's death and in care of her despicable uncle Baron Candover. Playing at cards with Lord Anthony Storrington and down on luck and funds he gambles his last asset - Jacobin. Of course she's none too pleased and high tails it out of dodge with her uncle's pastry chef, and disguised a boy and gains work in the Prince Regent's kitchen. It doesn't take long before finds herself accused of trying to poison her uncle and she's once again on the lam - and offers her pastry skills up to the very man she'd run from in the first place - Anthony.
Anthony doesn't fall for the boy get-up and falls into immediate lust with Jacobin and will do anything to protect her from the law while our intrepid pair try to solve the mystery of who is trying to kill her uncle. There's also a sub-story of Anthony's desire for revenge against Candover along with a mystery involving the death of his mother. You should be able to figure out most of it lickety-split. No big surprises here.
While the book started off a bit fun and I did enjoy all the food references and pastry descriptions (I swear my blood sugar levels went up just thinking about them), it quickly dissolved into a bit of a silly mess. I did like Jacobin's character and she was definitely a better-than-your-average-romance-heroine, but as other reviewers have noted Anthony could have used a strong infusion of alpha male and less milk-toast mushiness. Although certainly tame compared to other romance novels, the sex scenes got a bit odd at times, especially the pretend we're at the opera while I pleasure you from behind bit (you had to be there). It's a light fluffy read if you want to kill a few hours with some brain candy (pun intended) but not one that's going to linger on your keeper shelf either. 2.5/5 stars - I'm giving an extra half star just because Neville did spare me another volcano of honey moment. Thank goodness for small miracles :p
Anthony doesn't fall for the boy get-up and falls into immediate lust with Jacobin and will do anything to protect her from the law while our intrepid pair try to solve the mystery of who is trying to kill her uncle. There's also a sub-story of Anthony's desire for revenge against Candover along with a mystery involving the death of his mother. You should be able to figure out most of it lickety-split. No big surprises here.
While the book started off a bit fun and I did enjoy all the food references and pastry descriptions (I swear my blood sugar levels went up just thinking about them), it quickly dissolved into a bit of a silly mess. I did like Jacobin's character and she was definitely a better-than-your-average-romance-heroine, but as other reviewers have noted Anthony could have used a strong infusion of alpha male and less milk-toast mushiness. Although certainly tame compared to other romance novels, the sex scenes got a bit odd at times, especially the pretend we're at the opera while I pleasure you from behind bit (you had to be there). It's a light fluffy read if you want to kill a few hours with some brain candy (pun intended) but not one that's going to linger on your keeper shelf either. 2.5/5 stars - I'm giving an extra half star just because Neville did spare me another volcano of honey moment. Thank goodness for small miracles :p
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Never Resist Temptation paperback
This is an exceedingly well written historical romance. Not only does it have an intriguing plot involving cross dressing disguise, murder and erotic sexual foreplay with a lot of delicious recipes, but it is beautifully written with many authentic historical words easily accessible in the dialogues, and a vivid picture of Regency England. A delicious meal of a novel, easily digestible at any time or any mood.
This is an exceedingly well written historical romance. Not only does it have an intriguing plot involving cross dressing disguise, murder and erotic sexual foreplay with a lot of delicious recipes, but it is beautifully written with many authentic historical words easily accessible in the dialogues, and a vivid picture of Regency England. A delicious meal of a novel, easily digestible at any time or any mood.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
11 reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Very good debut effort -- shows lots of promise
23 Mar 2009
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I purchased this novel because it is a debut novel, and I want to encourage new talent. Miranda Neville shows great promise and I will be looking for her next book as this one is obviously set up for one or more sequels.
The plot is a little convoluted. Jacobin de Chastelux (try saying THAT ten times fast) is a beautiful, impoverished orphan, living with her horrid uncle, Baron Candover, who "loses" her in a card game to Anthony, Lord Storrington. Rather than be forced to become Anthony's mistress (or even worse, be sold to a brothel, which is the other option Jacobin's dastardly uncle proposes), Jacobin disguises herself as a boy and takes a job as an assistant pastry chef in the Prince Regent's household. Jacobin is a gifted pastry chef, and through various and sundry circumstances and close calls, she finally ends up as a still-in-disguise, (but this time as a servant and a girl,) pastry chef to the very man who "won" her in that card game. (Are you with me?) Jacobin is now going by the name Jane Castle. And, of course, she and Anthony fall in love.
Although the plot is contrived, complicated and pretty silly, the writing is not bad at all. Of course the whole "losing your 23-year old niece in a card game" premise is ridiculous. But I have suspended disbelief on flimsier premises in romance novels. The prose style is relatively smooth and the reader does care about what happens to the hero and heroine. There is a lot of unnecessary running around, and missed opportunities to set the record straight and clear up misconceptions, but on the whole the book is quite readable. The sex scenes are steamy and imaginative, and the sexual tension is well-drawn.
One thing the author does extremely well is integrate her research on Regency-era kitchens and recipes and pastry into the text. Ms. Neville writes a charming endnote about her interest in Regency-era chefs and cooking, which made me like her very much, and want to read further efforts which she produces.
This particular book is not keeper shelf material. But it shows lots of promise, and the author has introduced at least one, and maybe two minor characters who could show up in sequels. I will most certainly be purchasing her next book. I think she can only get better.
The plot is a little convoluted. Jacobin de Chastelux (try saying THAT ten times fast) is a beautiful, impoverished orphan, living with her horrid uncle, Baron Candover, who "loses" her in a card game to Anthony, Lord Storrington. Rather than be forced to become Anthony's mistress (or even worse, be sold to a brothel, which is the other option Jacobin's dastardly uncle proposes), Jacobin disguises herself as a boy and takes a job as an assistant pastry chef in the Prince Regent's household. Jacobin is a gifted pastry chef, and through various and sundry circumstances and close calls, she finally ends up as a still-in-disguise, (but this time as a servant and a girl,) pastry chef to the very man who "won" her in that card game. (Are you with me?) Jacobin is now going by the name Jane Castle. And, of course, she and Anthony fall in love.
Although the plot is contrived, complicated and pretty silly, the writing is not bad at all. Of course the whole "losing your 23-year old niece in a card game" premise is ridiculous. But I have suspended disbelief on flimsier premises in romance novels. The prose style is relatively smooth and the reader does care about what happens to the hero and heroine. There is a lot of unnecessary running around, and missed opportunities to set the record straight and clear up misconceptions, but on the whole the book is quite readable. The sex scenes are steamy and imaginative, and the sexual tension is well-drawn.
One thing the author does extremely well is integrate her research on Regency-era kitchens and recipes and pastry into the text. Ms. Neville writes a charming endnote about her interest in Regency-era chefs and cooking, which made me like her very much, and want to read further efforts which she produces.
This particular book is not keeper shelf material. But it shows lots of promise, and the author has introduced at least one, and maybe two minor characters who could show up in sequels. I will most certainly be purchasing her next book. I think she can only get better.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
The messy plot and man-boy hero killed this one for me; the heroine was a gem though
12 Jun 2009
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Plot Summary: In this convoluted plot, Jacobin De Chastelux has an evil Uncle who treated her like a poker chip and lost her at cards to Lord Storrington. Jacobin flees her Uncle's house and poses as a male French pastry chef within the Prince's household. Meanwhile, Storrington is plotting to lure the evil Uncle to his doom, and he chances upon a male pastry chef who will serve as bait for his glutinous enemy. Storrington hires Jacobin, and he quickly sees through her disguise. There are innumerable knots, kinks, tangles, and twists within this plot, and I'd need a whole lotta space to explain it all.
Thankfully I do have a few nice things to say about this book, which makes me glad, because overall it was not good. While tipping my hat in acknowledgement that this is a debut novel by a new author, this book cannot compare to a historical romance written by a seasoned pro such as Lisa Kleypas or Madeline Hunter. The plot is a steaming pile of overly complicated conundrums, and the author was clearly in love with the foodie side of the story. Too much in love. I enjoyed the pastry chef tidbits, but I think it took the focus from the romance. More on that later.
The good news is that Jacobin's character was spot on perfect. She was a wonderfully complex heroine, and her English and French halves created interesting conflicts. She lives with the English, but she's not truly one of them, and taken within the historical context of the book (after Napoleon's defeat), Jacobin's defensiveness is convincing.
The bad news is that Lord Storrington was a kaleidoscope of the least desirable character traits I'd want in a hero. At some point he was either weepy, gullible, arrogant, selfish, or rapacious. Even after getting to know Jacobin and her true story, Storrington uses her as a stake in a card game with her hated Uncle. He was a man-boy full of maudlin self-pity with nothing left over to spare for Jacobin.
This is why the romance failed to ignite, because I can't get excited for a hero like Storrington. There were also some missed opportunities to build up the sexual tension (in the only ballroom scene, they never dance or speak!), and too much time is devoted to ancillary characters, like Storrington's sister, or to details about making pastries. Ultimately a romance needs to focus on the romance first, and everything else should be icing on the cake.
Thankfully I do have a few nice things to say about this book, which makes me glad, because overall it was not good. While tipping my hat in acknowledgement that this is a debut novel by a new author, this book cannot compare to a historical romance written by a seasoned pro such as Lisa Kleypas or Madeline Hunter. The plot is a steaming pile of overly complicated conundrums, and the author was clearly in love with the foodie side of the story. Too much in love. I enjoyed the pastry chef tidbits, but I think it took the focus from the romance. More on that later.
The good news is that Jacobin's character was spot on perfect. She was a wonderfully complex heroine, and her English and French halves created interesting conflicts. She lives with the English, but she's not truly one of them, and taken within the historical context of the book (after Napoleon's defeat), Jacobin's defensiveness is convincing.
The bad news is that Lord Storrington was a kaleidoscope of the least desirable character traits I'd want in a hero. At some point he was either weepy, gullible, arrogant, selfish, or rapacious. Even after getting to know Jacobin and her true story, Storrington uses her as a stake in a card game with her hated Uncle. He was a man-boy full of maudlin self-pity with nothing left over to spare for Jacobin.
This is why the romance failed to ignite, because I can't get excited for a hero like Storrington. There were also some missed opportunities to build up the sexual tension (in the only ballroom scene, they never dance or speak!), and too much time is devoted to ancillary characters, like Storrington's sister, or to details about making pastries. Ultimately a romance needs to focus on the romance first, and everything else should be icing on the cake.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
did we read the same book?
17 Mar 2009
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I read a lot, especially historical romances. This book was not bad -- i did read it to the end. It's a first book and it shows. It also shows a lot of potential and I look forward to better things in the future. But i think most people reading the rave reviews that i read will be a little disappointed. Ms Neville's Web page however is terrific and great fun. Check it out http://www.mirandaneville.com and if you like food be sure to click on NEWS in the books section.
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