The Temptress

Book Description

Jude Deveraux brings her bestselling Montgomery family to America...with a marvelous new heroine!

With the blazing spirit of a true Montgomery, heiress Christian Montgomery Mathison bravely defies the two men who abduct her. Forced into the primitive rain forests of the Washington Territory, she is swept into a thrilling adventure. Amid schemes of greed and intrigue, the bold beauty resists the wooing of one captor, and uses all her whiles to entice the other, the mysterious Tynan...a dark, fatally handsome man who desires her...but who must refuse her love at all costs!

Download Description

"Jude Deveraux brings her bestselling Montgomery family to America...with a marvelous new heroine! With the blazing spirit of a true Montgomery, heiress Christian Montgomery Mathison bravely defies the two men who abduct her. Forced into the primitive rain forests of the Washington Territory, she is swept into a thrilling adventure. Amid schemes of greed and intrigue, the bold beauty resists the wooing of one captor, and uses all her whiles to entice the other, the mysterious Tynan...a dark, fatally handsome man who desires her...but who must refuse her love at all costs! "

Customer Reviews:

Loved It!.......2007-01-13

Deveraux's attention to detail is gripping in this book as she describes the beauty of the Western rainforest. This book is exciting, romantic and in Deveraux's usual style, educational. I Loved This Book!!

A surprisingly good novel!.......2006-04-06

I say "surprisingly good" because I hadn't expected to enjoy this book after reading the bad reviews here. However, The Temptress turned out to be one fun romance full of adventure, humor and twists and turns. It is kind of different from the other Deveraux novels I have read, a somewhat cross between Twin of Ice and Temptation, but the author's signature romance, wit and twist ending are there. Christiana Montgomery-Mathison is a twenty-eight-year-old heiress making it on her own in late nineteenth century (the author doesn't mention the year, but my guess is it is set some time around the late 1880s to the mid 1890s). She is the famous, admired newspaper reporter pen-named Nola Dallas, who is known for her snooping around and risking her life for adventurous, risque exposes. But one day two men go and fetch her to bring her back to her disapproving father. One of the men is the one she feels her father wants her to marry -- a respectable man who isn't at all respectable because he is after her money. The other man is a maverick named Tynan (no last name), who was in prison for a crime he hadn't committed and who may receive a pardon if he looks after Chris throughout the journey home. He is also told by her father not to touch her if he wants his freedom back. But that may not be easy, for mutual attraction and sexual tension between them is inevitable. Will they manage to keep their hands off each other throughout the long journey home? There are many twists throughout the novel.

This novel was sort of an acquired taste for me because I wasn't crazy about the first few chapters. I thought it was boring at first, but then the story picked up when Tynan, Asher and Chris began to travel around the Washington rain forests. And the story becomes riveting after Chris decides to help an accident victim during the journey. There are so many twists and turns that I soon couldn't put the book down. The story is fun and I love how Deveraux uses the Western genre here. Tynan is gorgeous, a gunslinger and a cowboy that is as sexy as he is infuriating. He is such a man-ho and at times I wanted to hit him with a frying pan. But he is also honorable. I like how, despite his denials about loving Chris, he does everything in his power to look after her and keep her safe. The author does this in a way that ensures the reader that he does these things for far more than mere duty. He does it because he loves Chris. And I love the scenes where he becomes jealous! His love for Chris is quite transparent in spite of his protestations to the contrary. I admit that his arrogance and womanizing ways infuriated me, but I still loved this man. He is the proverbial tortured hero with more than a few insecurities. Chris is a great heroine -- someone independent, intelligent and sure of herself. She decides to pursue the man she wants in spite of his halfhearted rejections. She is the proverbial Deveraux strong heroine and I liked her a lot. I also enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Sam Dysan and Pilar. And I loved all of the references to the Montgomerys from the Velvet series. Chris is a descendant of Christiana Chatworth from Velvet Angel and even inherited her "second sight." I loved that part of this novel a great deal. Chris is a Montgomery from the mother's side instead of the father's side. And this is the first Montgomery novel Deveraux wrote after the Velvet series. Anyway, The Temptress more than exceeded my expectations and I cannot give it anything less than five stars. The other reviewers must've read a different novel from the one I read. This isn't the best Jude Deveraux novel out there, but it is still wonderful and riveting and I cannot recommend it enough.

Great Book.......2005-10-28

I think this it the first one of Jude's books that I have read and I couldn't put it down.

Big Disappointment.......2004-06-10

Not at all up to par of Jude Devereaux's other books. I had wished she would write more books with a Montgomery woman as the protagonist, but this is definitely not it. Just plain bad, with shallow characters, and none of the humor that I love in her other books

disappointing.......2003-12-03

I found the story somewhat boring. Having two men in practically every scene, I found distracting. It seemed forced. Not nearly as enjoyable as some of her other books.

Customer Reviews:

Loved it!!.......2007-06-04

Ms. Dodd...keep them coming. I look forward to the next historical and I do hope it's about Michael. Hope you don't keep us waiting to long. It'll be nice to see the some of characters from this book again.

Two reasons not to buy.......2007-04-02

The first reason being that this is a REPRINT. First published in 2005.
The second reason is that this is a very poor book. I used to think that Christina Dodd was a good writer but now her plots are just silly and the writing is poor. This book is no exception; it supposedly involves members of the British upper class during the Victorian era but they "speak" like members of the uneducated poor and the plot is farcical.

Quick, get Ms. Dodd a thesaurus!.......2007-01-31

I've read other Christina Dodd books that I enjoyed, but this one was an absolute mess. Aside from the plot, which moved in pauses and jerks (and where did the queen get involved? how random.), the writing--in particular the word choice--was awful. The phrase, "He was not as fearsome as she feared," actually appeared, and things only went downhill from there. The author repeated words/phrases within sentences too many times when she should have dug around for a thesaurus, and then included a few random, overly pretentious words where a simple one would have been best. There were also character inconsistancies (in particular, the actions/words of the hero's father) that were impossible to follow--yet the other characters did not seem to notice. Finally, too many times "jokes" were made by the characters, to the uproarious laughter of their ficitious audience, that were not remotely witty. Everything felt way too forced. However, I do think I figured out why the publisher let this less-than-stellar book slip by: Ms. Dodd's sex scenes are as well written and as steamy in this novel as in her MUCH better written previous publications.

A little Different.......2007-01-26

This book was a little different from the typical Regency Romance. For one the hero is not a womanizing rogue and the heroine is a ruined woman forced to work for a living.

Beautiful Caroline is compromised and ruined as a young debutant by a married member of the nobility. He wanted a divorce from his wife and drugged Caroline and lured her into the library where they were discovered. Caroline is ruined and blamed for the incident and her father throws her out. She attempts to find work but keeps getting fired because frankly all she is good at is flirting. She is given a break when The Academy of Governess gives her a job doing just that, teaching someone to flirt. Caroline is hired by a duke to teach his son the foppish Jude how to flirt and catch a wife.

Jude is really undercover trying to catch his brother's murderers. He must act like a sissy trying to imitate the French. He wears outlandish colors-(orange shirt, with a yellow cravat and striped pants following around his two suspects who are French. He is intrigued by the young lady his father hires to teach him to flirt, but must concentrate on catching his brothers murderers. However, he cannot stop his longing for Caroline. Caroline is amused at Jude's antics but is determined to find him a wife. If she is successful she will earn enough to get her sister away from their tyrannt father. However, she falls for Jude in spite of his actions.

This is a decent story and the descriptions of Jude's clothes are sometimes hilarious. However, I couldn't help wonder why Caroline could never figure out Jude was acting. Still pretty good.

Why did he play with the knife?.......2007-01-15

I usually like Christina Dodd's books but this one left me unsatisfied and frustrated.

Why did Jude feel the need to play with the knife in Caroline's bedchamber? To show off his masculinity? That particular tidbit did not add anything to the scene.

Their romance seems forced to me, somehow.

Also, the twist at the end - what the heck is that? Ms. Dodd might have wanted it to be happy ending but I can do without it.

Temptress: From the Original Bad Girls to Women on Top

Average customer rating:

Beautiful coffee table book
In a Class by Itself
In a Class by Itself
Particularly recommended for Women's Studies reading lists

Temptress: From the Original Bad Girls to Women on Top
Jane Billinghurst
Manufacturer: Greystone Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1550549995

Book Description

According to Jane Billinghurst, men created the idea of the temptress — an irresistible woman bent on bringing them down — to justify the fact that they so often surrender to women, especially in the bedroom. In this fascinating study, she examines this vision in history, mythology, in the Bible, artwork, and film. She traces the evolution of the temptress from an almost demonic presence in folklore to current in-your-face performers like Madonna.

The changing image of the temptress reflects the ebb and flow of men's fears and fantasies, as well as women's self-possession and power. When men feel threatened by women's control, temptresses are seen as dangerous. When there is a lull in the battle of the sexes, these women become objects of fantasies. Billinghurst makes the case that when men begin to accept women as equals, the figure of the temptress will serve to accommodate both male and female desires.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful coffee table book.......2006-06-30

Beautiful coffee table book, but the historical inaccuracies were pretty annoying. For instance: Cleopatra was not a descendant of Alexander the Great, but of one his military generals, Ptolemy, who was appointed satrap of Egypt after Alexander's death in 323 BC.

In a Class by Itself.......2004-08-20

Beautifully illustrated (the book won the 2004 Alcuin award for excellence in Canadian book design), it contains a wonderful selection of relevant paintings (works by Rackham, Waterhouse, and John Singer Sargent appear side by side with discoveries by less familiar artists such as John Collier (who painted the wonderful rendition of Lilith on the cover), Papety, Gennari, Dury, and Henry Bone. Add to this a fine selection of still photos of Claudette Colbert (a luscious Cleopatra), Jane Russell, Clara Bow, Rita Hayworth, etc., and the visual appeal of the book is irresistible.

The early chapters offer an excellent concise sampling of sensuality in art, literature, and fable from classical antiquity to the middle ages. The later chapters tread on more familiar territory (film and the music scene), but are always insightful as well. The work skillfully avoids the pitfalls of the Prioleau and Griffin books -- too much feminist jargon in the former, too much purple prose in the latter.

Comparable works -- "Encyclopedia of Mistresses" by Dawn B. Sova, the Trevelyan book ("Hussies"), and "Courtesans" by Katie Hickman -- also have their charms, but the unillustrated Trevelyan book (a great read) appears to be out of print, while Hickman's focuses on the lives of five relatively anonymous "courtesans" rather than the more flamboyant sisters-in-arms that Jane Billinghurst so delightfully captures.

The book would be a bargain for the lavish artwork alone, but the author (who judging from the back flap is a bit of a temptress herself) has really outdone herself in providing an entertaining and perceptive study of the temptress phenomenon. The book is recommended for women's studies courses or human sexuality reference collections, but it is far more than that -- it is a delightful, informative, entertaining volume that is a real pleasure to own. Get a copy it and see!

In a Class by Itself.......2004-08-12

Like its author, Oxford-educated writer and editor Jane Billinghurst, this book is in a class by itself. Of several works that have been written on the subject of famous courtesans, temptresses, and hussies in history ("Seductress" by Prioleau, "The Book of the Courtesans" by Susan Griffin, or the wonderfully titled "Famous Hussies of History" by Albert Payson Terhune), this is clearly the book to own.

Beautifully illustrated (the book won the 2004 Alcuin award for excellence in Canadian book design), it contains a wonderful selection of relevant paintings (works by Rackham, Waterhouse, and John Singer Sargent appear side by side with discoveries by less familiar artists such as John Collier (who painted the wonderful rendition of Lilith on the cover), Papety, Gennari, Dury, and Henry Bone. Add to this a fine selection of still photos of Claudette Colbert (a luscious Cleopatra), Jane Russell, Clara Bow, Rita Hayworth, etc., and the visual appeal of the book is irresistible.

The early chapters offer an excellent concise sampling of sensuality in art, literature, and fable from classical antiquity to the middle ages. The later chapters tread on more familiar territory (film and the music scene), but are always insightful as well. The work skillfully avoids the pitfalls of the Prioleau and Griffin books -- too much feminist jargon in the former, too much purple prose in the latter.

Comparable works -- "Encyclopedia of Mistresses" by Dawn B. Sova, the Trevelyan book ("Hussies"), and "Courtesans" by Katie Hickman -- also have their charms, but the unillustrated Trevelyan book (a great read) appears to be out of print, while Hickman's focuses on the lives of five relatively anonymous "courtesans" rather than the more flamboyant sisters-in-arms that Jane Billinghurst so delightfully captures.

The book would be a bargain for the lavish artwork alone, but the author (who judging from the back flap is a bit of a temptress herself) has really outdone herself in providing an entertaining and perceptive study of the temptress phenomenon. The book is recommended for women's studies courses or human sexuality reference collections, but it is far more than that -- it is a delightful, informative, entertaining volume that is a real pleasure to own. Get a copy it and see!

Particularly recommended for Women's Studies reading lists.......2004-06-13

Temptress: From The Original Bad Girls To Women On Top by Jane Billinghurst meticulously examines the image of the temptress (the woman that men find irresistible) while drawing from the ancient stories of Lilith and Eve, to such modern-day icons as Mae West and Madonna. Covering cultural legends and attitudes ranging across the span of recorded human history, Temptress examines how the image of the seductive woman has been used to portray a threat, a delight, or even as an image reclaimed by women themselves. A provocative yet scholarly survey, Temptress is strikingly illustrated with full-page black-and-white and color photography. Temptress is particularly recommended for Women's Studies reading lists and Human Sexuality Studies reference collections.

Average customer rating:

Swashbuckling fun!
Fun and exciting!
Very Good Book
An average conclusion to a wonderful trilogy.
Don't miss this one!

Brazen Temptress
Elizabeth Boyle
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0440613760
Release Date: 1999-06-08

Book Description

She came to betray him...

No one could have known the truth: that the beauty who swept into the elegant ballroom was a pirate queen with a treacherous plan--to save herself from execution by identifying an infamous privateer attending the ball in disguise. Only Maureen Hawthorne could expose the double life of Julien d'Artiers, the toast of the ton. After all, she was his wife....

But he caught her heart unawares...

Julien was stunned when he beheld the love of his life, the wife he'd presumed dead. But here she was, her turquoise eyes blazing across a crowded ballroom, a woman determined to bring about his complete ruin. She blamed him for her father's death, swore to see him hang. But he took her into his arms and made her dance instead, tormenting her with memories of the passion they'd once shared, determined to make her love him again...willing to do anything to keep from losing her again.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Swashbuckling fun!.......2000-05-23

When pirate queen Maureen Hawthorne is captured by the British Navy and sentenced to hang, she is offered a way out. Betray the husband who she believes murdered her father. She accepts and enters into British society to find Julien DeRyes. She finds him, but also finds the passion that she once felt for him.

This book won a few awards, and it is very exciting! The heroine is very self-reliant, which is nice to see. She is totally capable of taking care of herself. The hero is sexy and passionate. All and all a good read.

Fun and exciting!.......2000-05-06

Elizabeth Boyle takes us on a thrill ride from ballrooms to pirate ships. Sexy hero, sassy heroine! A fun read!

Very Good Book.......1999-10-22

Brazen Temptress is a very good book, but it failed to evoke much emotion from me. I like the surprise at the end between Maureen and Mary. Even though it is not a very emotional book, it is a fun book.

An average conclusion to a wonderful trilogy........1999-07-03

Elizabeth Boyle can write the best swashbuckling fun ever. Masquerade, intrigue, passion... she can do all of these wonderfully. "Brazen Angel" was superb, "Brazen Heiress" very good, and this, her latest, is just so-so.

Oh, the exciting intrigue is still there. However, "Brazen Temptress" is basically a Big Misunderstanding story. A very well-done BM story, but nonetheless, the story is driven by the hero's incomprehensible refusal to set the story straight early on (probably because otherwise there will be no story!). Seeing the heroine being put through suspicions after suspicions, just because the hero won't talk, becomes very irritating after so much and ultimately spoils the fun.

Don't miss this one!.......1999-06-28

What a hero! Julien is everything you could want in a character and then some-and Reenie is his match in every way! Another great story from Elizabeth Boyle

Average customer rating:

I felt as if I were a part of the story!
Mystery good, Romance bad
This book was horrible...I want my $$ back
A good book!
A Gothic-Suspense - Wonderful!

Temptress (Onyx Novel)
Lisa Jackson
Manufacturer: Onyx
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451411552

Book Description

A bloodied warrior is brought to the Castle Calon, battered, nearly unrecognizable. And yet Morwenna sees that he resembles Carrick of Wybren, a man who not so long ago broke her heart. Is he friend or foe? Lover or enemy? As the days pass and the unknown soldier revives, Morwenna senses that, together, they will face a new peril. For the Redeemer, a mysterious man who stalks the halls of the castle is moving now-and in his wake he brings with him destiny, desire and death.

Customer Reviews:

I felt as if I were a part of the story!.......2006-10-25

I felt as if I were a part of the story. Jackson kept me into the book by just giving you the facts, not the answers; therefore it makes you want to read more to find the answers. She hit all targets for me; she makes you feel related to the characters male or female by giving you a great level of intimacy and suspense. If you like the medieval era, this is a wonderful adult book. I recommended it to everyone I knew. I wish Jackson would come out with a sequel.
Also, a major plus is it is easy to put down (I didn't want to, but sometimes you have to), and pick up agian... EASY READING! For those of us whom are in a time crunch.

Mystery good, Romance bad.......2006-06-02

I picked this one out in desperation at the airport. This isn't my usual fare, I prefer regency romance, but I decided to give it a try. The story is quite good, but the romance is flat and the ending is extremely unromantic. That was a HUGE let down for me!

The mystery plot is interesting and the revealment may or may not be a surprise, but ultimately I couldn't get over the lack of romance.

This book was horrible...I want my $$ back.......2006-02-16

I bought this book on my honeymoon at the hotel gift shop because I had finished the 3 books I brought with me. It was terrible and I threw it out after finishing. I feel like the hours I spent reading it were wasted. If I could rate it with zero stars, I would. Do not read this book.

A good book!.......2005-12-06

In this historical romance, a man that was so badly beaten he couldn't be identified is found and brought to Castle Calon. The year is 1289.

Morwenna, Lady of the castle, is afraid the man is Carrick of Wybren because he wears the signet ring of the Wybren family. Carrick broke her heart and stole her virtue three years ago. He also has been accused of starting the fire that killed all seven members of his family a year ago.

Unfortunately, Wybren has no memory of who he is or what happened to him. There is also someone lurking in the halls of the castle who calls himself the Redeemer. He is looking for justice and wants Morwenna as his own.

Jackson brings to vivid life a time and place far in the past. She is a master at creating her reality and taking the reader there. I didn't know who the Redeemer was until he was revealed but several clues had me guessing right up until the end. I would recommend giving them all a try.

Armchair Interviews says: This is the third in her medieval romance series.

A Gothic-Suspense - Wonderful!.......2005-12-02

I picked up a Lisa Jackson recently, thinking it would be another mystery/suspense from an author I like. The title is Temptress and it had a "Great Read Guarantee" so I knew I couldn't go wrong. But I was surprised because the book was set in the year 1237 in Wales--talk about medieval romance! Who knew Jackson also wrote in this genre!

Well the book was quite different from what I expected; it is a romance but also a great suspense book. Morwenna is the main character, trying even back then to make herself a non-traditional woman, and has assumed the head of a castle. Castle Calon, owned by her family, is now under her leadership. At that time, a castle was like a village, with people looking to the castle owner for provision of medical assistance, law enforcement and even food. Into this castle is brought a man, nearly beaten to death, who has lost his memory, but who is believed to be Carrick, a former lover of Morwenna and who deserted her for another woman. Over everybody's warnings, she puts him into her brother's bedroom, with just a guard at the door, rather than in the dungeon, for Carrick is wanted by the law for burning his home, killing his entire family.

Property ownership is the primary way to make money and gain power, so there are many vying for Morwenna's attention as Lady of the Castle--as well as being a beautiful young maiden. One such admirer lurks within the castle walls, spying on her, plotting how he will one day have her and her castle. In the meantime, Morwenna and the stranger become intimately involved...

I thoroughly enjoyed this, not only because of the storyline, but because it was a glimpse into life in ancient times. Sure glad it was just through reading a book though... If you enjoy gothic-like romances, I suggest you try this one!

Conan: Hyboria's Fallen (Pirates, Thieves, and Temptresses)

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Conan: Hyboria's Fallen (Pirates, Thieves, and Temptresses)
Vincent Darlage
Manufacturer: Mongoose Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1905176252

Book Description

Conan: Hyboria's Fallen is the third of three source books expanding the core classes from Conan: The Roleplaying Game, offering unparalleled opportunities for players to flesh out their Pirate, Thief and Temptress characters, and for GMs to further develop a gaming system already noted for its variety and depth.

Average customer rating:

The Bride Quest continues
Hot and cold for me
Love stories from this time period!
A temptation not to be missed
A Yummy Hero,

The Temptress (The Bride Quest)
Claire Delacroix
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0440236401
Release Date: 2001-12-04

Book Description

The crusader feared nothing — until he met...

The Temptress

“I will not wed a man who thinks to own me.”

Furthermore, Esmeraude of Ceinn-beithe declares that she alone will name the winner of her heart. To the knights gallant who ride from afar to do her bidding, she issues a challenge: a riddle that is both quest and test. And then she flees, daring her suitors to follow.

Thus begins the Bride Quest of Bayard of Villonne, to compete for the hand of a woman he has never seen....

Newly returned from the Crusades, Bayard has warned his family of a pending attack upon their estate. When they pay no heed to his message, he swears to protect the family holding himself ... even if its price is a marriage of convenience.

It seems a simple matter to win the hand of a rural maid in a barbarian contest — until the chase begins. Esmeraude’s challenge makes her far more intriguing than Bayard has dared to hope. But when he follows her across the waters and rescues a tattered, ravishing damsel in disguise, he knows he has found her.

Recklessly, she offers herself to the handsome stranger. But not even a passion that touches both their souls can win her hand. For Esmeraude will settle for nothing less than total surrender of the crusader’s worn and wary heart ... a treasure Bayard is determined to keep shielded forever.

Customer Reviews:

The Bride Quest continues.......2002-10-03

Courtesy of The Best Reviews

Bayard of Villone has recently returned from the Crusades where he has spent the last five years. He left home after a bitter argument with his father which put him at odds with his entire family. He has returned to protect his family's estates from pending attacks. Upon returning home, Bayard's grandmother ropes him into finding a bride in exchange for his uncle's estate of Montvieux, which Bayard desires above all else. So he grudgingly goes on a bride quest, for a woman he has never even seen, and is pleasantly surprised by what he finds.

Esmeraude of Ceinn-beithe is opposed to the competition for her hand in marriage. She refuses to marry for less then the complete love of her husband and will not settle for a marriage of convenience. So she sets out upon a quest of her own, searching for personal adventure. She issues an additional challenge to her potential suitors, leaving them riddles to lead them to her location, testing their intelligence and commitment.

Bayard is bound and determined to win the competition against the other knights, which include his younger brother and his cousins, even before seeing or talking to Esmeraude. When he finds her on her adventure, disguised as a common maid, he knows immediately who she is. He is intrigued by her wit and intellect, which causes him to desire the marriage for more than the holdings it will secure for him. But he swears he will never allow his life to be ruled my emotions, especially love.

Esmeraude was immediately attracted to Bayard, convinced he was the only one for her, when she thought him to be a complete stranger. She is surprised and disappointed, at first, to discover he is one of her suitors on the Bride Quest. Then he tells her he does not believe in love, but wants to marry her because it is mutually beneficial to the both of them. Esmeraude has decided Bayard has one her heart and is the only man for her. So she takes it upon herself to make him admit he loves her before she will agree to be his wife.

Ms Delacroix falls flat with this latest tale in the Bride Quest series. Bayard is an overly cocky and disillusioned knight who thinks he is always right and that he is the greatest knight around. He can't understand how any woman could possibly be uninterested in him. He treats his family poorly, even to the point of trying to steal his cousin's inheritance out from under him. In the end, he starts to come around and even admits he may have been wrong in the past. However he never quite redeems himself to be worthy of winning the quest, in this reviewer's opinion.

Esmeraude is a young lady who has dreams beyond what is expected of women in her time and wants to have some fun and a lasting marriage full of love. She is a dreamer who wants everyone else to dream too. When she sets her heart and mind on Bayard, she doesn't give up and goes after what she wants, not giving up.

The plot is rather limited, revolving more around the characters than excitement and action in the story. There were some good side stories going on throughout as well, with an enchanted vine and yet another marriage being made while Esmeraude and her knights are on their quests.

This tale is not a favored one of this reviewer and not a "keeper" though it did have some finer points to it. The uninspiring hero detracts from the story and does not seem deserving of his Lady Love, Esmeraude.

Hot and cold for me.......2002-06-06

Maybe I didn't get this book? It was the first Claire Delacroix book I read and I know it's part of a series, so maybe I missed something along the way but I found this book to be confusing and choppy in parts. It started off really good but then it slid into areas that left me scratching my head.

For example: I was shocked with how fast the heroine threw herself at the hero and slept with him just to lose her virginity. It didn't make sense to me that a medieval woman would do that. She was also TSTL at times. The hero was better and he is the only reason I finished reading the book, sad to say. I really got confused when the goddess Fortuna appeared in a tree and was commenting on the hero and heroine. Whats up with that?! Also there were looooong stretches of a poem inserted into the book that went on for chapters and chapters of time. It was a nice poem/story but it seemed like it was just there to fill pages. It took away from the book I thought.

Like I said. Maybe I just did not get this book. Other reviewers seemed to like it so I guess you just have to be the judge. My copy is already in the trade box for the UBS.

Love stories from this time period!.......2002-03-13

"The Temptress" is an amzing read. A story from a time period that I honestly love. Romance and chivalry, damsels and marriages of convenience.

To win a young damsel's hand in marriage seems a simple challenge until the chase begins - Esmeraud's challenge makes her far more exciting than Bayard had dared hoped - But when he follows her across the waters and has to resuce the seductive little minx in disguise he not only knows he has found her but he suddenly realizes she is much too intriguing to ever let her slip through his hands.

"The Temptress" is a magical tale that I found to be both exciting and appealing.

John Savoy
C.E.O. & Financial Advisor
Savoy International
Motion Pictures

A temptation not to be missed.......2002-01-01

This is not your average romance. The maiden, Esmeraude is more then willing to give up her virginity and the hero isn't so sure it's a good idea. I had a laugh riot with this one, you meet a wonderful family, and though I haven't read the other bride quest novels, you never miss a beat. I just couldn't put this story of love, magic and even Saints down. It is a must read and I highly recommend it.

Tisha D. Boldery

A Yummy Hero,.......2001-12-17

THE TEMPTRESS has an almost fairytale quality missing in today's historical offerings and should please those who have been following the tales of the women of Ceinne-beithe. Yet, readers will wonder, is pampered lass quest anymore important than that of a battle weary Crusader who must marry to consummate a quest of his own?

Esmeraude, is the youngest daughter of Countess Eglantine de Crevy, Now of a marriageable age, her mother and step father Duncan have assembled a number of eager knights who will vie for her, as much as for her dowry and womb. Yet, like many of the maids in this series her heart is full with the expectation of seeking her own destiny: a lovematch. Bayard of Villionne is a battle hardened Crusader who, despite is conflict with his choice of liege Lord, is held captive by the desires of his grandmother and family honor. When he arrives at Ceinne-beith as a well accomplished knight he doubts not that he will succeed for the hand of the young maid, who he assumes is an maid of country innocence. He rises to the challenge of the pursuit of this maid, not unlike those same challenges found on the battlefield.

But can he stay one step ahead of an evil bent on keeping him in his place, and one surely bent on destroying Esmeraude as well. Of course is it any wonder with THE TEMPTRESS's fairytale-like quality there should be just such evil. Unlike those of our childhood fairytales, there is not a traditional
dragon to slay but one of a two legged variety readers should discover early in the book.

Although a fun read there are a number of elements of the story that bothered this reviewer. First and foremost was the heroine who at times seemed to be so out of character for the time period(ie... her willingness to give her virginity away so casually and putting her need to find a man to love her rather than what she could bring to the relationship) Virginity being a gift that can only be given once, seemed to be less important to her than giving her heart. Yet, to this reviewer the giving of such a gift seems to be convincing only when she knows the receiver also has given his heart to her. Thier coupling certainly was well written, one the reader will enjoy.

The hero, who made the book for me was also not without his contradiction of character. At first in the presence of Emeraude's family and other knights his chivalrous honor shines through like a beacon proclaiming all the good that a fairytale knight should be with honorable declarations of his intentions. Certainly he outshines the other knights present with his diplomacy at the court of the Lord of Isles and elsewhere. So when did his armor get tarnished, or at best lose a bit of its shine?

When he meets our tempting maid he knows who she is yet quite wilingly takes what is offered, not very chivalrous in the great scheme of things. This reviewer would have enjoyed seeing him with a bit more angst both above and below the beltline. Denial of ones desires makes the gift all the more special. But with this said, this is after all a work of fiction, a well crafted journey where the reader escapes the woes of the real world: one where evil is conquered but only when true love is found.

THE TEMPTRESS has wonderful secondary characters, especially Celie. She provides the heroine with a level headed sidekick who knew the score from the start. For loyal readers of the series the appearance of not only Duncan and Eglantine but Angus and Jacqueline will add to the enjoyment of Bayard's and Esmeraude's quest of the heart as well. Also Ms Delacroix does more than just an adequate job with her medieval voice, she has a rare gift readers should enjoy. For it is not so much her choice of words that are exceptional, but the development of the medieval syntax of her speakers. Although not overpowering with historical references, this is after all a fairytale that should be read for the plot and characters rather than for a sense of Scottish history.

Can this reviewer give THE TEMPTRESS a thumbs up? You bet. Although not quite as good as the first three books with the Irish setting this one is a nice conslusion to the Scottish trilogy. Fans will feel like they have come home to the highlands.

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Rings True

A Tempting Love Story

A Tempting Love Story

Delve Into The Minds Of The Mentally Ill
The Temptress Ariel
Greg Bauder
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Selene's Guiding Light

ASIN: 1413732968

Book Description

The Temptress Ariel is a unique foray into a modern relationship between a naive and sensitive man, Don, and a streetwise, free-spirited young woman, Ariel, who both suffer from schizophrenia. Don is lovestruck and pursues the moody Ariel after they meet in a psychiatric boarding home, a house in the community which is a recent type of addition to the mental health system. Don and Ariel are both haunted by their past loves so much that their illnesses are influenced into delusions about love. At the heart of the novel is the quest for meaningful relationships in a world where suspicion, manipulation and paranoia create snags that hurt - and are often debilitating to the point of hospitalization.

Customer Reviews:

Rings True.......2006-06-04

I don't enjoy this genre (romance/lust story), but the book is short and sweet, providing the reader insight into the true mind of a regular, sweet guy with Schizophrenia. I greatly appreciated the book for that.

At first I found the excessive use of imagery for adjectives annoying, but then realized that it was an expressin on the main character's thoughts - not a writing style. And that also rang true. The main character is a vulnerable sweet guy, and I liked that.

The book portrayed the folks battling with serious brain disorders in such a truthful way - just everday folks living their lives, yet more accepting of other people's foibles than most.

If people want to get a glimpse into the REALITY of Schizophrenia rather than the Hollywood distortion of it, I highly recommend this book. Especially if you enjoy romance novels, which I DON'T - yet I STILL recommend it.

A Tempting Love Story.......2005-04-30

Greg Bauder's novel, THE TEMPTRESS ARIEL, tells the poignant tale of Don and Ariel, two patients in a psychiatric boarding home who fall in love. In the easy to read 106-page novel, the reader comes to know Don and Ariel in their bright love and dark mental illness. At times the two contrasts overshadow each other, passing in front of one another like storm clouds.

Don is obsessed with Ariel from the very beginning, even though her mood fluctuates from elated to tearful in a matter of seconds. Don can never seem to say the right thing, but rather than be repulsed by her illness, Don simply dries "the tears from her gorgeous face with [his] fingers," (p. 20) and professes his love to her all the more.

Don and Ariel's love for each other is a rollercoaster, at times bordering on "normal," with day trips to Ariel's grandmother's house and to local clubs. But those "normal" days never seem to stay normal. During those times, their affair is bleak, confusing, and gut-wrenching, ultimately landing both Don and Ariel relapsing in a hospital psychiatric ward.

Still, Don is determined to make his relationship with Ariel work, despite his recurring nightmares about her and his misgivings over a previous relationship that left him shattered. How far will Don go to keep Ariel in his life? And just how far will Ariel go?

THE TEMPTRESS ARIEL is a unique story told from the point of view of a schizophrenic. It offers a candid look into a world seen as "scary" by many - the world of the mentally ill. Bauder takes on some tough questions: Can the mentally ill love and be loved, despite their illnesses? Can there be trust among the anxious? And, most importantly, is having loved worth it in the end?

Although the metaphors throughout the book at times seem clumsy and repetitive, and it is unclear as to whether this is Bauder's writing or Don's thinking that makes it so, his subtle repetition of daily routines and Don's cyclic thoughts and dreams make the story convincing. In the end, the reader finds himself rooting for Don and Ariel, hoping against hope that the two of them really will find forever-love.

THE TEMPTRESS ARIEL is a quick, easy read and is entertaining and interesting. Bauder has no need to pit the two against a dangerous, cynical and cruel psychiatric system, which saves the book from becoming a "typical story about a couple of mental patients." The cover is pleasing to the eye, giving the reader a clear picture of this raven-haired beauty before page one is even read. Good for quick time-outs or before bed reading, ARIEL is indeed tempting.

A Tempting Love Story.......2005-04-30

Don fell in love with Ariel the very first minute he saw her. With her long black hair and easy smile, she was a beauty like no other he'd seen. He wanted to kiss that smile, to love the moody new girl in the psychiatric boarding home.

Greg Bauder's novel, THE TEMPTRESS ARIEL, tells the poignant tale of Don and Ariel, two patients in a psychiatric boarding home who fall in love. In the easy to read 106-page novel, the reader comes to know Don and Ariel in their bright love and dark mental illness. At times the two contrasts overshadow each other, passing in front of one another like storm clouds.

Don is obsessed with Ariel from the very beginning, even though her mood fluctuates from elated to tearful in a matter of seconds. Don can never seem to say the right thing, but rather than be repulsed by her illness, Don simply dries "the tears from her gorgeous face with [his] fingers," (p. 20) and professes his love to her all the more.

Don and Ariel's love for each other is a rollercoaster, at times bordering on "normal," with day trips to Ariel's grandmother's house and to local clubs. But those "normal" days never seem to stay normal. During those times, their affair is bleak, confusing, and gut-wrenching, ultimately landing both Don and Ariel relapsing in a hospital psychiatric ward.

Still, Don is determined to make his relationship with Ariel work, despite his recurring nightmares about her and his misgivings over a previous relationship that left him shattered. How far will Don go to keep Ariel in his life? And just how far will Ariel go?

THE TEMPTRESS ARIEL is a unique story told from the point of view of a schizophrenic. It offers a candid look into a world seen as "scary" by many - the world of the mentally ill. Bauder takes on some tough questions: Can the mentally ill love and be loved, despite their illnesses? Can there be trust among the anxious? And, most importantly, is having loved worth it in the end?

Although the metaphors throughout the book at times seem clumsy and repetitive, and it is unclear as to whether this is Bauder's writing or Don's thinking that makes it so, his subtle repetition of daily routines and Don's cyclic thoughts and dreams make the story convincing. In the end, the reader finds himself rooting for Don and Ariel, hoping against hope that the two of them really will find forever-love.

THE TEMPTRESS ARIEL is a quick, easy read and is entertaining and interesting. Bauder has no need to pit the two against a dangerous, cynical and cruel psychiatric system, which saves the book from becoming a "typical story about a couple of mental patients." The cover is pleasing to the eye, giving the reader a clear picture of this raven-haired beauty before page one is even read. Good for quick time-outs or before bed reading, ARIEL is indeed tempting.

Delve Into The Minds Of The Mentally Ill.......2005-02-24

This story provides an insightful look into lives of the mentally ill. In this short story, Don is a moderate schizophrenic but he is stable and is employed. He calls someone having a psychotic episode "jonesing" or having a "jones". He periodically hears the voices of demons; however, the voices are greatly ameliorated by his medications. There is no cure for schizophrenia. All that the medical establishment can do is treat the symptoms.

Ariel is afflicted with a schizoid-affective disorder. In many ways this disease is more serious than schizophrenia because it exhibits not only schizoid affects, such as paranoia, but it is also characterized by extreme and sudden mood swings.

Don and Ariel meet in a boarding home for the mentally ill in Vancouver. Don falls for Ariel, who is exciting as well as beautiful. With Don it is not only sex, he dreams of a house, a family, and a normal life.

Ariel's mood swings make for a difficult relationship but Don won't give up. He is in love. She is very manipulative and her love for Don is feigned. Don accepts his mental illness and dutifully takes his meds and follows the advice of the helpful nurses.

Ariel won't take hers, which causes her to relapse. They take Ariel to a psychiatric hospital. Don flips because of this and they take him to the hospital too.

While there, they consummate their love. This dalliance with sex cements Don's love for Ariel. But it becomes clear that Don's love is doomed because of Ariel's illness and her refusal to accept it.

She flees the hospital to meet up with a former boyfriend. The two of them are found dead from an overdose of heroin. Don accepts the news resolutely and we are left with the hope that Don will someday fulfill his dream of a normal life.

Most people who are not familiar with mental illness don't realize that, except for the very seriously mentally, psychotics are not crazy all the time. The illness is episodic. They learn to compensate for their illness, just as do the physically ill. They avoid trouble having learned lessons from their past.

Don's seems almost normal, except for his sleepiness (an indication of the major tranquilizers he is taking) and crying fits. He is definitely the more stable of the two and his love is real.

He describes how the nurses try to help him. Stress is a trigger for a psychotic episode. He knows that the medicine helps. He has accepted that there is something wrong with his brain. Accepting a psychotic illness is an absolute requirement to allow the treatment to work. But meds do not help some people. They dislike the zombie like feeling that the medicine provides or they have some of the other side effects of the medicine, such as tardive dyskenisia, an involuntary lip smacking. These people are doomed for the rest of their lives. They will not take medicine and they remain active psychotics.

Ariel is one of the doomed. Anything sets her off. Don's description of her fragile nature and his attempts to not say the wrong thing is frighteningly real.

This book was a good, quick read-written in an easy readable style. I suspect Don is the author and that this is really a memoir-creatively fictionalized. My suspicion is enhanced because only someone who has lived the life of a mentally ill person through it could describe it the way Bauder has.

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Wolfe's Temptress (Secret Passions)
Robyn Donald
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0373820216

Sydney, The Temptress: The Delaneys of Killaroo

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Sydney, The Temptress: The Delaneys of Killaroo
Fayrene Preston
Manufacturer: Loveswept
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553218743
Release Date: 1987-08-01

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