Customer Reviews

Into Temptation (Friends Trilogy)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Heroine: plump/voluptuous

Lady Sophia Aberley swore to have nothing more to do with Julian Rexley, the young lord who once broke her heart and left her to face down a scandal all alone. But fate has conspired differently, for when the earl's younger sister flees from her guardian and turns up on her doorstep, Sophia finds she is powerless against being drawn into Rexley's life once more.

Julian Rexley is fit to be tied when he discovers that his sister Laetitia is in the clutches of that jaded fortune hunter Sophia Morelle, the very woman who once staged being caught en flagrante delicto with him in order to trap him into marriage! Unfazed by the failure of her scheme, the greedy wench soon turned around and landed herself a wealthy Marquess instead. And to add insult to injury, the heartless doxy penned an "anonymous" tell-all book about the whole sordid affair, and even had the temerity to send Julian a signed copy!

This forced reunion between Julian and Sophia has all the earmarks of disaster, but will seven years of harboring hurt over deceit and betrayal melt away in the burning light of their love? Or will their bitter rancor begin anew?

What worked for me:

I thought that giving both main characters a knack for the literary was an excellent notion. By reading each other's work, Sophia and Julian were able to gain more insight into the other's true thoughts they might have had otherwise. The little quotes from Sophia's book, which opened each chapter of the story, were delightful. And Julian's poetry, which heralded Sophia's curves as being more beauteous than Eden, was lovely.

The sexual tension was rather good, but better still were the actual love scenes, which were at once both hot and tender. Every woman should have praise for her figure lavished as sweetly upon her as Julian did Sophia's. This book is a keeper just because of those scenes!

Size-wise Sophia was voluptuous-going-on-plump. And like most women she had her concerns about her lover seeing her body, especially her breasts which sagged slightly from their weight.

What didn't work for me:

There was a bit more enmity between the hero and heroine than I usually like in my romances, but readers who appreciate a challenging, hard-to-win-over hero will find one to adore in Julian. (For the most part, I liked him. But he really was being a bit of a dolt when it came to handling his 24 year old sister, who, spoiled brat though she sometimes appeared to be, did deserve at least some say in what to do with her life.)

Overall:

"Into Temptation", with its elegant prose and sizzling sexual tension, is a delicious treat for fans of Sensual Regencies. Be sure to indulge yourself in it this Valentine's Day!

Warning: there are some steamy scenes and coarse words in this book.

If you liked "Into Temptation" you might also enjoy "Suddenly You", "The Accidental Bride", "The Bride and the Beast", "The Fire-Flower", "The Last Days of a Rake", "Unmarriageable", "Cat and the Countess", "The Courtship", or "Enchanting Pleasures".

In this third book of the series of the three boyhood friends, Brave, Gabriel and Julian we have Julian's story set in the same period of 1819 England. This one had a similar theme from Gabriel's story in that both of these men had loved and lost the heroines in their younger days through acts of misinterpreted betrayals and/or misunderstandings. To start this story, Earl Julian Rexley learns his sister Letitia was not where he was planning to find her to escort her to London for a season she did not want. In fact he would learn that she was at the home of Lady Sophia Morelle, a woman he hated and despised. A woman from his past that years ago he believed had set him out to trap him into marriage by staging a compromising situation where they would be discovered. Julian, felt she was only interested in his title and money and when approached by her father he refused to wed her. Facing a huge scandal Sophia's father then arranged for her to marry an older man with a loftier title and much more wealth less than a month later. The details of that union would be unknown to Julian until much later, but he would use that knowledge to convince himself that she was a greedy calculating witch. Soon after that he would write a poem of love and betrayal about Sophia that would launch his career as a leading poet.

Sophia, felt even more betrayal and returns his sentiment and she herself, wrote a scathing book modeled after him. Still, she has formed a very real friendship for his sister Letitia and Julian's sister has found a champion in Sophia who commiserates with her that Julian is acting like a bossy beast who only wants to control his sisters every move. Julian arrives at Sophia's, now a widow, insisting that Letitia leave with him, but she refuses unless he allows Sophia to accompany her as her companion. Sophia refuses, until her wicked brother-in-law attempts to force himself on her. Julian not only saves her from rape but realizes she was frightened of Charles and was not his lover as Charles tried to let Julian think. Julian also begins to wonder why the dowager Marchioness seems to be living in near poverty.

This was a very emotional love story - so very many missed opportunities because of youthful pride. The lead characters were wonderful - both so similar in that they were both published - he as a poet and she as an author. I truly enjoyed their story and was deeply moved to tears towards the end. What I felt held this back from a higher rating was the lack of closure to the storyline of Sophia's brother-in-law, Charles who figured so prominently in the beginning and was a major catalyst in turning Julian around into a protector for Sophia than the protagonist he was in the beginning. I kept waiting for a retatliation that never came. All things aside, that one fault does not stop me from highly recommending this book as an engaging and highly enjoyable read.

Too many misunderstandings and obstacles for the couple to overcome. The plot with Lord Aberley was unfinished. Lady Sophia's father was an awful character and her mother was weak. Julian was too set against his sister marrying the man she loved. Why did Julian and Sophia even want to be together? --Oh it must have been their undeniable lust for one another. I found both characters to be immature.

the troubles between the two main characters seemed to drag on and on and on. I truly could not stand Julian. He acted as if everyone around him should just accept that he was a selfish idiot and forgive him for it. I think not. I dont think he deserved Sophias love. I couldnt stand Julians sister. She was even more of a brat than Julian. After all Sophia went through in her first marriage because of Julians weak character I might add I thought she deserved a little more respect and REVENGE. Instead she chases after Julian. Whatever.

Kathryn Smith is one of my favorite historical romance writers. I love all of her books and Into Temptation is a wonderful book!

Great reading! I love this author and the characters; they seem human with flaws like us. I enjoyed the story very much! High recommend it to any romance reader.

The pros and cons lead to an average, or slightly higher than average rating. I really liked the fact that both protagonists were writers; Julian writes & says some deliciously romantic things. Their misunderstandings were presented in such a way that you came to understand their actions and animosities. Charles is a truly despicable villain. Very sexy book, often emotionally captivating.

On the down side, Letitia ....I never liked her. Julian did not handle her well, and neither did Sophia. The Charles situation was never fully resolved, and there needed to be more about what Julian and Sophia loved about each other.

In 1819 Earl Julian Rexley learns his sister Letitia is at the home of Lady Sophia Morelle, a woman he hates. Seven years ago he believed that she lured him into her bed to compromise him into marriage because she wanted his money. He refused to wed her and the scandal was disastrous. Sophia married someone else a month later, but has since been widowed. Not long after that he wrote a poem to Sophia that launched his career as a leading poet.

Sophia knows Julian still hates her like she once did him, but she now only feels he betrayed her. Julian arrives insisting that Letitia leave with him, but she refuses. Letitia insists she will only go with him to London if Sophia comes too. Julian invites Sophia, but she declines until her odious brother-in-law forces himself on her. As Julian realizes she was frightened of Charles and was not his lover as he previously thought, he wonders what else he misinterpreted seven years ago in light of her living in near poverty. His musings lead to his concluding that he still loves her. Sophia never stopped loving him.

Though a by the book Regency tale, the story line is fun to follow due to the lead characters, who are the epitome of a love hate relationship. The secondary characters, especially Charles and Letitia, help propel the plot forward by their impact on the relationship between the main duo. Fans of a delightful 200 proof Regency will want to read Kathryn Smith's latest tale.

Harriet Klausner

This is an excellant read. I usually never leave reviews.
I finished this book in less then a day. It is a very
well written story.