Lead Me On [Mass Market Paperback]

Julie Ortolon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 2003

When A Woman Who's Willing To Say Yes...
Allison St. Claire has the face of an angel. That's part of the problem. She also sells quaint tea sets in the gift shop at Galveston's Pearl Island Inn. It doesn't exactly scream sexy! Years of having men treat her like a little sister is enough to drive a healthy woman crazy! Especially when a gorgeous hunk checks in and fails to recognize that Allison's more than willing. She's ready...

Meets A Man Who Isn't Listening...
Frustrated author Scott Lawrence is hoping to get lucky in more ways than one. A little fun in the sun with a beautiful woman may be just the inspiration he needs to cure his writer's block. No fuss. No commitment. But a 'good girl' like Allison? No way!

Then It's Time For Action.
When Allison makes her move, every bachelor bone in Scott's body tells him to swim for safety. But stronger instincts prevail, and the heat climbs higher than the temperature on the Gulf Coast. Now a four-letter word called love could turn a sweet spring diversion into the most unexpected and complicated fling of their lives.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Now that siblings Allison, Aurora and Adrian St. Claire have launched their bed and breakfast in Galveston, Tex., and Aurora has found true love, it's Allison's turn to face the challenges of the heart in this inspirational sequel to Falling for You. Prim and petite Allison has the sweet, wholesome image that usually scares off commitment-shy men like bestselling author Scott Lawrence, who's staying at the supposedly haunted inn to stir up his creative juices. But when Allison decides she's tired of being a nice girl and propositions him, he goes against his better instincts and agrees. The two share an amazing night together, but Allison is hesitant to repeat the experience, fearing that love will only lead to the kind of pain she experienced 10 years earlier when she fell prey to a scheming boyfriend and suffered a miscarriage. Scott, whose parents are anything but happily married, shares Allison's unease about relationships, but he can't seem to keep his hands off of her. Ortolon's protagonists must overcome some tough emotional issues before they can set their sights on the future, but their journey is laced with humor and even a little history (provided by the inn's ghosts). Earnest and endearing, Ortolon's newest is a heartwarming and at times heartrending read.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Writer Scott Lawrence has a bad case of writer's block. At his agent's suggestion, he takes a month off and checks into the bed-and-breakfast that now occupies the old mansion his family used to own. Expecting it to look like the dilapidated pile of stone he remembers from his youth, he's surprised to find it lovingly restored. Hoping to relax and find some temporary female company, the only woman who interests him is one of the owners. Alison and her siblings have made a go of their fledgling enterprise after purchasing the property from the family who long ago destroyed theirs. Scott thinks that Alison, who hides behind her prim and proper facade as a defense against being hurt again, is the settling-down type. She is very attracted to Scott, but as she tries to convince him that she's not interested in a long-term relationship, she convinces herself, as well. Readers will root for Allison and Scott to overcome the obstacles keeping them apart in this entertaining and touching story. Maria Hatton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (January 20, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312983484
• ISBN-13: 978-0312983482
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #930,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm late bloomer when it comes to reading -- and writing. I didn't discover either joy until I discovered romance novels in my early twenties. Now, I'm totally addicted. My biggest joy is bringing all my interests together in my books, to have the chance to celebrate the things that excite me through my characters. So when people ask me, "Do you put yourself or real life experiences in your books?" the answer is "You betcha!" I just edit out the boring parts, and emphasis the fun parts. And take a LOT of literary license!

Since I love to travel, all my books are set in places I've actually been. Sometimes those real places morph into fictional places -- like Pearl Island -- but I try to capture the magic of the setting and people in all my books, to make writing them like a trip to a wonderful world where good always triumphs and love always ends in Happily Ever After -- against all odds. That's what makes life worth living, and books worth reading: when someone grabs the brass ring.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Warm, Funny Story of Unexpected Romance, March 20, 2003

By 

baltimore0502 "Hon!" (BALTIMORE, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lead Me On (Mass Market Paperback)

Well, here's another 5 stars for Julie Ortolon's terrific "Lead Me On"! I loved this story and these characters. This is my first book by this author and it will definitely not be my last. Matter of fact, I'm going to investigate her other books immediately!

This is the second in a trilogy of stories about the St Claire siblings. Youngest sister Aurora's story started the series in "Falling for You", oldest brother Adrian will star in the upcoming "Don't Tempt Me". "Lead Me On" is middle sister Allison's story and a very sweet, funny story it is!

Allison and her siblings run the Pearl Island Inn, a B&B they own on a private Island in Galveston. Allison is thrilled when famed writer Scott Lawrence checks in for a month. Scott has come to the supposedly haunted inn to try and cure his writer's block and maybe indulge in a little recreational sex. Though Allison is petite and lovely, she screams "nice girl" and so Scott rules her off limits. Alli, tired of having men overlook her, propositions Scott, much to his surprise! They agree to a very adult, no strings attached, purely sexual one night fling. Yeah, right. Sure. After a wonderful night of passion it'll be simple to ignore each other for the remaining three weeks of his stay - NOT!

Though neither want feelngs to emerge, it seems to be inevitable. And then things get very complicated. For not only is Scott unwilling to open up about his life, he's been holding out on Allison about who he really is. And Allison's desperation to keep her heart from being broken (again) make trust and a deeper relationship difficult. It's a rocky road for these two, but you root for them every step of the way!

I loved the warmth and camaraderie of the St Claire family & friends. And the sweet, warm relationship between Scott and his niece Chloe revealed that underneath his cool, aloof and often gruff exterior, was a really nice guy. A highly recommended read!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars engaging contemporary romance, January 18, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lead Me On (Mass Market Paperback)

Badly hurt in a relationship once before, Allison St. Claire vowed never again would a man devastate her heart again. However, when horror writer Scott Lawrence checks into her family owned and operated Pearl Island Inn on Galveston Island, Allison reconsiders her pledge.

Scott is immediately attracted to Allison from the moment he first sees her, but she is wife material and all he desires is a fling to end his frustrating two years of celibacy. He does not want marriage so he plans to avoid her. However, the stubborn Allison convinces him to enjoy an affair with her during his month stay with the stipulation neither would have regrets and insist on a further attachment. Between love and a threat to the inn, Scott finds he wants to rewrite the ending from a gothic horror to a romantic happily ever after together.

The latest St. Claire tale, LEAD ME ON, is an engaging contemporary romance starring two enchanting emotionally wounded lead warriors. The support cast including the return of the stars (Aurora and Chance) of the first novel FALLING FOR YOU and Allison's brother enhances the audience's appreciation of the story line by enabling the reader to understand the motives of the protagonists. Fans will want to read Julie Ortolon's delightful tale while waiting for the final St. Clair story starring the male sibling Adrian.

Harriet Klausner

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Emotional, sensual and utterly gorgeous, February 28, 2003

By 

Desmond Chan (Bishan North Singapore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lead Me On (Mass Market Paperback)

This hard-earned effort by dyslexia-afflicted writer Julie Ortolon is one of the rare books of the genre that explores the essence of romance to its fullest. Lead Me On begins with bestselling author Scott Lawrence traveling to Pearl Island Inn, Galveston with a fervent hope to cure his writer's block. Allison St. Clare operates the gift shop in her family-owned inn and is oddly fascinated with this celebrity. However her prim image and innocence dispels any thoughts of a fling from Scott's head. Allison is insulted at his lack of spontaneity and strikes a plan for a one-night stand where, much to Scott's surprise, she has a hidden sensual side.

Love and marriage never cross his hardened-cynic of a mind especially with his shadowed childhood and a notoriety of a dad - magnate John LeRoche. His father is suing Alli's brother-in-law Chance to get back the Island that he sold. There is a history in this island pertaining to Alli's ancestor Marguerite who had a tragic and unrequited romance with Captain Jack Kingsley. A pearl necklace bestowed to Marguerite was believed to bless the island - and LeRoche wants it back badly.

This secret withheld from Alli threatens to shatter the delicate trust and love between them. Add on to insecurity from a miscarriage and Scott's reticence about his family, the path to love becomes arduous. Ms. Ortolon poignantly explores love as a double-edged sword which causes joy as well as hurt with emotional turmoil that flashes out the vulnerability of her characters thoroughly. She intricately weaves an ancient phantasmagoric tale of unrequited love to mirror the devastations to relationships with the lack of trust.

The bouncy ensemble of side characters like Scott's niece Chloe and the St. Clare family beautifully add values of kinship and concern. Scott and Allison evoke sensual radiance and convince readers as a united pair. Lead Me On is emotional, sensual and utterly gorgeous and this coming from an author struggling to realize her dreams makes it doubly touching.