Unwrapping: LORD OF TEMPTATION by Lorraine Heath - a Guest Review by Stephanie Tracy

My darling friend, Stephanie Tracy of THE TUDOR ENTHUSIAST asked me the other day if I'd ever read any books by Lorraine Heath. My response was yes, in fact, I've got a print copy of LORD OF TEMPTATION in my bookshelf waiting patiently to be read. I then asked if she enjoyed Ms. Heath's books. She surely does. So I asked her if she'd like to review one for us. Guess which one she chose?

Stephanie is a delightful young lady who blogs about fascinating items pertaining to the Tudors. She loves the history, the Tudor family, and THE TUDORS television series. She recently spent time at Oxford - yes, that Oxford in England - studying and was very sad to leave there but has high hopes of returning one day. If you'd like to learn more things about the Tudors than you ever thought were known, please feel free to stop by Stephanie's beautiful website and browse a bit. You'll be as enchanted as I am with the amount of information you'll find there. I'm sure she'd love to have you follow her on Facebook and Twitter as well. Stephanie is a wonderful, intelligent, young woman with a fresh outlook on everything and a wonderful friend. I hope you enjoy her review of LORD OF TEMPTATION by Lorraine Heath - it's exceptional.

Stephanie owns her copy of LORD OF TEMPTATION by Lorraine Heath, and is presenting an honest and unscripted review without compensation.

Blurb for LORD OF TEMPTATION:

Three young heirs, imprisoned by an unscrupulous uncle, escaped--to the sea, to the streets, to faraway battle--awaiting the day when they would return to reclaim their birthright.

Once upon a time, he was Lord Tristan Easton--now he is Crimson Jack, a notorious privateer beholden to none, whose only mistress is the sea. But all that will change when exquisite Lady Anne Hayworth hires his protection on a trip into danger and seduction. . .

Desperation brought Anne to the bronzed, blue-eyed buccaneer. But after the Captain demands a kiss as his payment, desire will keep her at his side. She has never known temptation like this--but to protect her heart, she knows she must leave him behind. Yet Tristan cannot easily forget the beauty--and when they meet again in a London ballroom, he vows he won't lose her a second time, as fiery passion reignited takes them into uncharted waters that could lead the second lost lord home. . .

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First of all, I’d like to say that I have never read a novel by Lorraine Heath that I didn’t absolutely love. She was actually the author of the first romance novel I ever read, so she holds a very special place in my heart!

 

LORD OF TEMPTATION is no exception to my love for Heath’s books. This book was, in a word, delicious. I could probably gush about it for hours, but I’ll try to keep it under control for this review. Seriously, if you haven’t bought it yet, do it now. Here’s why…

 

This story follows Lady Anne Hayworth, a proper English noblewoman who has been brought up to follow the rules of society, make a good marriage to a wealthy lord, and live the quiet, privileged life that other women are accustomed to. This all seems like a fine idea to Anne, until her beloved fiancé, Walter, dies while fighting abroad. She can’t move on – though her father and brothers are trying to force her into another season so that she can snag a new fiancé. Anne needs to put the ghost of her past away before she can do that, so she makes secret arrangements to visit Walter’s grave.

 

Cue the sexy, rugged, and roguish Captain Crimson Jack – a lord in disguise, he loves and lives for the sea, and he is the person Anne turns to in her hour of need. However, it’s not only a trip with her across the English Channel that Crimson Jack is after. Immediately, he is beguiled by the beautiful lady, and he wants her more than he has ever wanted another woman. Anne also cannot deny her fascination with the captain, and she soon finds herself caught up in a very improper affair with the most unlikely of love interests.

 

This story continues so much farther than the sea, though. Although that is where the romance starts (and I’m a sucker for romances on a ship with a sexy privateer), the complications of their dangerous affair spill over into Anne’s family life, and they certainly make matters of her upcoming betrothal to Lord Chetwyn interesting.

 

I absolutely ADORED the characterization in this novel. As if the plot isn’t fascinating enough, the characters really made this a novel I won’t soon forget. Captain Jack Crimson (who is really Lord Tristan Easton in disguise) is the ultimate bad boy – scarred from his difficult past, attached to the wild, unpredictable life at sea, he is rugged, mysterious, and as untamed as the waters he sails on. Lady Anne is also a great female lead. She is no damsel in distress – she is strong-willed, hardheaded, and unafraid of a little breaking of the rules to get what she wants. She’s feisty, and that’s something that I appreciate in a historical romance. These characters just mesh so well. You can practically feel the heat radiating off the pages – their relationship is hot.

 

There is literally nothing that I didn’t like about this novel. Seriously, I wouldn’t change a thing. There was just the right amount of passion and steam, while maintaining the sweet, romantic charm that means so much in a romance novel. The storyline was compelling enough to avoid being too predictable, and the ending left me very satisfied and happy for the characters.

 

I would recommend LORD OF TEMPTATION to absolutely EVERY romance novel enthusiast out there! If you love roguish, sexy bad boys, and strong, independent ladies, this book won’t let you down. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

 

With that, I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from the novel, and one of the best examples of Lorraine Heath’s extraordinarily romantic style.

“The sea is his home…and what sort of life would that be for a lady?”

“If it includes love, I should think it would be a very wonderful life, indeed.”

 

- Lorraine Heath, LORD OF TEMPTATION

 

Thank you for a truly wonderful review, Stephanie!  Happy Reading Everyone!

 

LORD OF TEMPTATION, a Lost Lords of Pembrook novel by Lorraine Heath, Avon Romance, available now in print and ebook formats.