Tempt the Devil
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
Any man in London would worship her. Yet Olivia is, quite frankly, bored of them all. Despite her many dalliances, she’s never felt true passion, never longed for any lover’s touch . . . until Julian, London’s most notoriously wanton rake, decided to make her his mistress.
From the moment he first saw her, Julian knew he must possess her. And when he discovers her greatest secret, a scandal that could ruin her reputation and end her career, he knows just the way to use this damaging information to his most delightful advantage. He offers Olivia a deal with the devil: he’ll keep her secret . . . if she allows him the chance to show her true ecstasy.
But Olivia must be careful, for Julian has a secret of his own: he will not rest until she is completely, shamelessly his.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars What’s This Man’s Problem????
I read Ms. Campbell’s second novel UNTOUCHED first … and loved it! I felt equally for Grace and Matthew knowing what they’d both endured before meeting one another. I eagerly purchased her first novel CLAIMING THE COURTESAN and must admit I found Justin, the Duke of Kylemore to be your basic male chauvinist who needed some time on a shrink’s couch, and not just because of his upbringing!
I felt the same way about Lord Erith in TEMPT THE DEVIL. Yes, these men live in the days when whatever the man said goes – he was the king of his castle and master of all he surveyed. But couldn’t they show some kind of courtesy to the women in their lives and not merely treat them as “possessions?” Especially when these women (yes they were paid for their services) suffer more in the relationships because they ultimately – unfortunately – fall in love with their “protectors.” I would like to see these “heroes” portrayed more sympathetically – like Matthew in UNTOUCHED – instead of as unfeeling villains who want what they want and could care less about how much pain they cause those in their immediate sphere … especially the so-called loves of their lives! They behave more like spoiled little boys instead of grown men of the world. They will pursue their women from town to country, from one end of Britain to another to show the pursued who’s the boss! They have no qualms about resorting to blackmail to keep their “love” under their respective thumbs. What’s up with that? These men have issues that supposedly justify rape and mental cruelty on the women they say they love.
I’ll probably buy and read Ms. Campbell’s next book. But I truly hope that her next “hero” will be someone in whom I can find something to admire, some redeeming characteristic instead of his being a jerk who deserves whatever pain and lost he encounters … and welcomed back into the arms of the woman he’s used and abused for a happily ever after ending.
2 Stars Where was the rake?
For those of you that are thinking to buy this book because you want to read about London’s most notroriously wanton rake; think again. Julian Earl of Erith is no rake! Oh, don’t get me wrong, the book tells you that he is, but nothing he does confirms the statements. Instead of coming off as a hardened rake, he comes off as a love sick school boy at the age of 38. The man is a widow and has two grown kids, one of which is engaged, and yet he behaves as if he’s never had a woman before. He basically chases, threatens, begs, and stalks the heroine into wanting him. Believe me when I tell you that the heroine didn’t even have sexual attraction towards him. She despised sex and he had to go through hell just to get her to be stimulated. After all the joyless sexual encounters, I finally realized that I was not enjoying the book at all and I didn’t care anymore if she would ever enjoy sex with him or not. I just wanted to start on another book that I would enjoy reading; so I did!!
2 Stars So disappointed
The reviews let me down on this one. I love Claiming The Courtesan and so wanted to like this book. I did not.
Another reviewer used the word “joyless” in describing this book. I could not agree more. The early sex sequences read like scenes from a bad marriage. An Olivia’s background. It was just too much. This book was darned depressing. There is no happiness and light here. And certainly nothing to recommend it.
I hate books where the heorine tells the hero she wants to get married, but he rejects her-for whatever reason. Julian seemed like he was not that in to Olivia. He was not willing to even TRY to move mountains for her, even when she told him she needed him to want to.
I did not feel the love between these two and I have no affection for this book. So disappointing.
3 Stars 3.5 stars…
I read someone else say that they wanted to give the book 3.5 stars and I completely understand what they mean. I read this book based on a recommendation after reading Passion by Lisa Valdez. I liked this book but not as much as Passion. On it’s own it is a good book, but I also think at times it was confused what it wanted to be.
I thought some of the tone was more modern than other historical romance novels. I did grow to like the hero…but wasn’t as attached to the heroine. I thought some of the sex scenes were referred to instead of explained. I want the author to paint a picture in an erotic book, not refer to it.
I would recommend it to people who want a simple story and a quick read, light on the sex.
5 Stars Brilliant
This book was so different than anything I have read recently. It was refreshingly romantic as you watched the love develop between Julian and Olivia. It was not easy, but intense, emotional and heart wrenching to read. Olivia is a jaded courtesan who is weary of her role and seeking one last lover before ending her career. Julian is a hardened rake with a desolate past. He always gets what he wants and he wants Olivia. The two arrange the affair each thinking to rule the other then move on. Both Julian and Olivia were real, and the interactions between them were rich and remained true to their characters and the historical period they lived in. Yes Julian is a bit over bearing, arrogant and controlling. But so is Olivia. I also read untouched by the same author, which I liked as well. BUT I think this one is even better. I agree with a previous reviewer in that the story was so focused on the couple that there was not a lot of other plot elements. That I think was why it was so brilliant. SO many other books go off into plots that take away from the romance. Anna Cambell let the development of this impossible love relationship be the plot. It was wonderful.