SHE TEMPTS THE DUKE by Lorraine Heath

Avon

January 31^st, 2012
978-0-06-202246-2
Historical Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)
Obtained by Publisher

3.5 Hearts

Wounded warrior Sebastian Easton has lived for one thing-revenge…revenge against the uncle who stole his birthright, his youth and his two brothers who scattered with Sebastian after escaping his uncle’s ‘care’. Now grown, Sebastian is determined to get what is rightfully his-his home, his brothers and he cannot forget the young girl who helped him and his brothers escape all those years ago.

Lady Mary Wynne-Jones has paid dearly for helping the three rightful hearts of the Duke of Keswick escape their uncle and now grown; Mary finds she is torn between her betrothed and the one man who she shared a forbidden kiss with before he melted away in the night. Now when Mary and Sebastian meet once again, two hearts will long for one another as passion wars with retribution as Sebastian and Mary find that love is the one thing that can heal the most hardened of hearts and soothes the soul.

Lorraine Heath gives readers the story of Sebastian Easton, the rightful Duke of Keswick. Sebastian along with his two brothers were forced to leave their home, birthright and everything familiar in order to escape from their devious uncle’s plans to dispose of them. Ms. Heath delivers a wonderfully flawed hero, a courageous heroine and a passionate love that is based on friendship. The hero, Sebastian, is scarred inside and out, been at war, separated from his brothers, now way to know where they went, he comes back to claim his title, his home and the one woman who helped him and his brother all those years ago. SHE TEMPTS THE DUKE is a gripping, wild ride from start to finish. Ms. Heath’s masterful storytelling is right on track with this wonderful story. Full of action, romance and more, SHE TEMPTS THE DUKE is one story I have been waiting for.

Meet Sebastian Easton. The rightful Duke of Eastwick, forced to flee when he and his brothers were just boys, scattered like the wind, he is on a mission now after years of war & battles to reclaim what is his and find his brothers. Sebastian is a man with demons, a battle weary warrior who thirsts for revenge against the man who caused him and his brothers so much pain. This is a character you can not help but fall for. There is just something about Sebastian that had me wanting to wrap my arms around him and give him a hug. Family plays a big part in the story as does the one person Sebastian has dreamed about-Lady Mary Wynne-Jones. She was the one person who helped him and his brothers so long ago. These two are very enjoyable together. Mary tempers Sebastian’s thirst for revenge and rough edges while Sebastian finds he can feel the love he needs from Mary. What I loved the most was how this friendship Mary had with Sebastian was kept alive in their hearts, deep in the nights when despair tries to take hold for Sebastian. The connection these two have is delightful, romantic and equally enjoyable as well. The characters are well written, showing their vulnerabilities even as the reader finds they have a core of steel that, when called upon, stands tall and the test of time. The secondary characters are just as enjoyable and I really loved seeing the different yet distinctive ‘voices’ some of the characters had in the story.

SHE TEMPTS THE DUKE is a perfect story to read if you enjoy adventure, romance and a love so powerful, it will heal the most shattered of souls. Ms. Heath has created a trilogy of stories set around these three brothers that left me eager for more. I would love to read more about some of the secondary characters that intrigued me. I can’t wait to see what else this author dreams up for her readers to enjoy. In the meantime, I am going to go back and read these three books again and fall in love with the Easton brothers-Sebastian, Rafe & Tristan.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

LORD OF TEMPTATION by Lorraine Heath

LORD OF TEMPTATION by Lorraine Heath

Lost Lords of Pembroke Series

Avon

September 25^th, 2012

978-0-06-210002-3

Historical Romance

Mass Market Paperback

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Temptation-Lorraine-Heath/dp/0062100025/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352843282&sr=1-1&keywords=Lorraine+Heath

Obtained by Publisher

 

Three young heirs are imprisoned by their uncle and when they escaped, they went their separate ways. One went the sea; another to the streets and the last one to a land’s faraway battle. All three determined to return to reclaim their birthright. This is the story of Lord Tristan Easton.

Lord Tristan Easton was once his name but now he goes by the infamous moniker, Crimson Jack, a notorious privateer. His love for the sea is renowned but when he meets Lady Anne Hayworth, well let’s just says his mistress, the sea, has competition in this exquisite woman who captures Tristan’s heart. Desperation has sent Anne to Tristan’s side but she has never known a desire so hot or feeling so totally right before. Tristan says he will help her and her payment is to be a kiss….a kiss that will ignite something between them that will flare out of control. When Lady Anne leaves his side, her heart breaking, can Tristan find the strength to find her and convince her to be by his side-forever? Can this lost lord find the path to the home he longs for?

I absolutely adore this book. It was fun, emotional, and searingly hot plus the writing was perfect. The story flowed smoothly, a few twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat and the cast of characters was delightful. Tristan and Anne were a perfect balance to one another. Both tried to keep their hearts under wraps but after awhile they find themselves falling in love and I got to admit, this was one passionate couple. Tristan is scarred by his loss of his brothers and father; Anne feels guilty and melancholy. Both want different things, but they can not stay away from one another. These two really tugged my heart and the author has a way about her writing that captured their heart felt emotions, their issues from the past and even the present to finding that their love can be all that they wished for and more.

Meet Crimson Jack, a notorious privateer and a man with secrets. Those secrets he holds close to his heart and when he meets Lady Anne Hayworth, well all bets are off. But problems are in store for these two passionate people. For Tristan is not only a privateer but also the lost son of the late Duke of Keswick. Disappeared years before, Tristan has vowed to find his brothers and take down his evil uncle. But he never anticipated the Lady Anne stealing his heart along the way. Tristan is a hero with painful secrets, ones that cause him pain. He hides his heart, vowing never to love but the author does a marvelous job in creating Anne as his perfect foil. She fights him, makes him love her and in the process, she heals his heart, though both fight against it. The secondary characters are wonderful and keep the story flowing nicely and I loved how they were integrated into Tristan and Anne’s story.

Ms. Heath delivers a romantic tale to warm her readers up on a cold winter’s night. LORD OF TEMPTATION is more than guy finds girl, falls in love and lives happily ever after. Both main characters have pasts that cause hurts and those hurts need to be healed in order to find the love they need and long for. LORD OF TEMPTATION is a memorable tale and one I plan to read again. Kudos to Ms. Heath for creating a story that stole my heart and left me breathless in the end.  I look forward to reading the other stories about Tristan’s lost brothers next.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

Lord of Temptation Available from All Romance Ebooks

 

LORD OF TEMPTATION by Lorraine Heath

Publisher:   Avon

Date published:   September 25, 2012

ISBN:  978-0062100023

Genre:   Historical Romance

Book format:  Paperback

Obtained via: Publisher

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

On the eve of their father’s burial Sebastian, Tristan and Rafe are locked away in the tower of their ancestral home by their uncle. Twenty-two minutes younger than his twin, Sebastian, Tristan Easton, is the second son…the spare. He doesn’t begrudge Sebastian his place. In fact, he supports and defers to his twin. When Sebastian says the boys, which include their younger brother, Rafe, must flee their family home before their uncle kills them, Tristan follows his brother. When the boys decide they must separate to remain safe, Tristan accepts Sebastian’s decision to go to sea.

Life wasn’t kind to Tristan. Leastways not early on. Determined to have his revenge against his uncle Tristan learns the ways of the seas, ultimately winning his own ship, one he captains under the name of Crimson Jack. Willing to take coin for pretty much any task, Tristan can also afford to turn down any job that doesn’t suit him. When Lady Anne Hayworth seeks him out he may have met his match.

Betrothed to a soldier Lady Anne is neither bride nor widow nor unattached woman. Instead she is somewhere in between, a foot in several worlds, belonging in none. Her finance went off to war in the Crimea and never returned. Anne seeks to journey to her finance’s grave to say goodbye but she wants not do it in her own time in her own way. When she approaches Tristan (Jack) he initially tells her no, then keeps her from finding another to sail her to Scutari. He finally agrees but his price is nothing Anne ever expected to pay.

I had a bit of a time getting into Lorraine Heath’s LORD OF TEMPTATION, book 2 of her Lost Lords of Pembrooke series mainly because initially I didn’t find Anne or Tristan all that likeable. They didn’t seem to connect to each other and not to me as a reader. Then, a few pages in, when Anne discovers what Tristan is about and he names his price the story began to click for me.  Ms. Heath created Tristan with a wonderfully impish and delightfully humorous side. Despite a tragic life in the years following his father’s murder his own innate lightheartedness remained.  Ms. Heath does a fabulous job of bringing that playful side out as well as a romantic heart that can only be brought out by the right woman. Tristan tries, admirably so, to be tough and uncaring but underneath is a man so warm and loving any woman would want him for her own.

I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes that took place on Tristan’s ship, Revenge. Ms. Heath paints a vivid picture of romance on the high seas. The parallels between the raging storm at sea and the passionate turmoil that draws Tristan and Anne to each other while at the same time pulls them apart is page turning reading. I totally enjoyed book 1, SHE TEMPS THE DUKE and want to stamp my foot because now I’m going to have to wait for Rafe’s story…there is a Christmas novella due out in December, but not a word about Rafe’s story—and that one will be the most mysterious of all.

I’ve been a fan of Lorraine Heath’s since I read TEXAS DESTINY about fifteen years ago. I’ve loved her western romance and am finding I enjoy her historicals just as much.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

SHE TEMPTS THE DUKE by Lorraine Heath

Publisher:   Avon

Date published:   January 31, 2012

ISBN:  978-0062022462

Genre:   Historical Romance

Book format:  Paperback

Obtained via: Publisher

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

On the eve of their father’s burial Sebastian, Tristan and Rafe are locked away in the tower of their ancestral home by their uncle. Despite his pretense of protecting the boys they know their Uncle David has done so for one reason and one reason alone—and it doesn’t bode well for the boys. Before David can carry out his horrific plot the boys are rescued from a surprising quarter—their friend Mary Wynne-Jones. Mary is greatly worried about the boys after hearing their uncle tell an unknown that they are to die. The boys along with Mary flee the house. Leaving Mary behind Sebastian heads to the army, Tristan to sea and Rafe to a workhouse.

Twelve years later the Pembrook Lords return to regain their birthright. But that is easier said than done. The preceding twelve years haven’t been kind to the lords. Each is scarred in his own way. As the eldest it falls to Sebastian to lead the way back into society and to claim his rightful place. Once again Mary—now not only grown up but a beautiful woman—rushes to his aid. But Sebastian’s scars are more than skin deep. With a killer determined to end his life can he see past his own darkness to be with the woman he loves?

I haven’t read a Lorraine Heath romance in far too long.  I’ve mainly read her westerns because they are my first love in reading romance.  Her SHE TEMPTS THE DUKE has gotten me hooked on her other historicals. From the very beginning where the young lords are rescued by their friend Mary I was hooked on this story. Each character is unique and, except for Uncle David, are likeable in their own way. Even the naïve young ladies hunting on the marriage mart have something to recommend them as characters. They are products of their time and well portrayed as such.

At times I felt a little bad for Fitzwilliam—even though he could be a pompous jerk. In his own way he was a likeable jerk and deserved his own brand of happy ending.

The “Beauty and the Beast” theme is far from new but Ms. Heath gives it a wonderful telling with Sebastian and Mary’s story. 

SHE TEMPS THE DUKE can be read and enjoyed as a straight forward historical romance or with an eye toward deeper musings on just what constitutes beauty. I’m looking forward to book 2 of this series, LORD OF TEMPTATION.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.