A Taste of Temptation
By Amelia Grey
Berkley Sensation
Dec. 2005
Regency
Strange, but true, Agatha Loudermilk announced to her niece, Olivia Banning, that they will be traveling to London to try to locate a ghost. Not any ghost, mind you, but that of Lord Pinkwater, the very man responsible for Agatha's broken heart years ago. Off to London they go.
Andrew Terwillger, the fifth Earl of Dugdale, can hardly recognize his friends Chandler Prestwick and John Wickenham-Thickenham-Fines. Marriage has changed them. Even more troubling is the fact that Andrew's estate manager, Willard Hawkins, was stealing money from him. But he has managed to refill his pockets and make his estates more prosperous. As a pleasant diversion, his Aunt Claude has planned an elegant party at his estate. He eagerly awaits the young ladies being introduced into the ton.
After a china urn tumbles from the horsehoe landing above the foyer, Olivia, a guest at the party, convinces her aunt to let her check the rooms above for the ghost of Lord Pinkwater. This way, her aunt's reputation will not be tarnished from such unusual behavior. Curiosity leads Olivia into the lord of the house's chamber. While examining his personal possessions he enters his room and questions her presence and intentions. She states that she is not a thief and this leads to a kiss and her comprised reputation when they are caught. Her aunt believes that a quick marriage is the best solution.
Olivia had wanted to marry for love. Andrew wanted nothing to do with love and responsibility. Neither gets their wish after a small, but simple wedding. Adding to Olivia's nightmare is the fact that Andrew does not want an intimate relationship because he feels she tricked him into marriage.
What he has in mind is a mistress and nothing more, but he easily finds himself distracted when he thinks of Olivia. Life only gets more complicated for the two when Andrew begins to experience near-death situations.
So, something is brewing in darker minds, but is it that of the living or the deceased? Read the book to learn more.
A TASTE OF TEMPTATION is a wonderful Regency filled with characters who are probably modeled after their social equals in real life. With the exception of Olivia and Agatha, these people like living life to the fullest and think only of social engagements. Andrew did have to struggle to regain his wealth, but he still, for a good part of the book, was looking for romance without responsibility. Sooner or later, though, responsibility, love and maturity catch up with you.
Five elegant social engagements out of five
--Denise Fleischer, gottawritenetwork.com
