Master of Temptation [Mass Market Paperback]

Nicole Jordan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 2004

In her dazzling new novel, Nicole Jordan tempts readers with a tale of breathless splendor and soul-searing passion.

Lovers in paradise . . .

He is a brilliant military commander . . . and every woman’s temptation. When Max Leighton unexpectedly comes to her golden Mediterranean island, Caro Evers longs to heal his emotional battle scars. But during one glorious night in his arms, she discovers a sensual master whose mere touch drives her to wild abandon.

She is the bewitching angel he can’t forget. Jaded by the glittering ballrooms of Regency London, Max returns to Cyrene to find the temptress who haunts his dreams . . . only to learn that Caro leads a dangerous double life. She’s a warrior as well as a healer—a member of a secret society of protectors, sworn to fight evil and tyranny across Europe.

Afraid to lose her heart to Max again, Caro vows to conquer her fierce tenderness for him and thwart his campaign to win her. Then a perilous mission of adventure takes them far from Cyrene’s sun-splashed shores, entwining their destinies and challenging their deepest desires.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Jordan's newest Regency-era romance (after Ecstasy) is appropriately set on the fictional Mediterranean island of Cyrene, which is headquarters to the clandestine Guardians of the Sword. Formed in the Dark Ages by legendary British warriors exiled to the island, the "secret society of protectors" now operates with input from Britain's Foreign Office. The first time war hero Max Leighton visits the island, he shares an intimate night with the enigmatic healer Caro Evers. Neither forgets that night, and when their paths cross again a year later-after Max agrees to help the Guardians rescue a kidnapped noblewoman-they pick up where they left off. Although Max is determined to win Caro's heart, she believes he wouldn't want her if he knew her secret: she's not only a healer but a well-trained Guardian. As the author illustrates time and again, however, Caro isn't immune to Max's charms, and the two fill the pages with love scenes to the point of redundancy. More compelling is their emotional relationship, which plays upon Caro's insecurities and Max's nightmares of war. Although the kidnapping subplot is merely a device to bring Max and Caro together, readers who prefer their romances more sexy than suspenseful and more fantastical than historically accurate will savor this sensual feast.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

When Major Max Leighton arrives at Cyrene with one of his wounded men, Caro does everything she can to help but secretly yearns to tend to Max. Once he accepts Caro's invitation to indulge in one night of passion, he realizes that she relieves his great emotional pain. While in London, Max is haunted by memories of the bewitching Caro, so he gives in to temptation and returns to the mystical, magical isle only to discover that Caro is even more unusual than he imagined. Not only is she a gifted healer but Caro is also a member of a secret society dedicated to protecting justice, but if Max joins their latest dangerous mission, he risks losing her forever. The first in a new paranormal series, Jordan's latest has all the searing sensuality and lusciously detailed love scenes readers have come to expect from this romance author, who skillfully seduces readers' senses with her imaginative settings and her ability to blend passion and danger. REVWR
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (April 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804119813
• ISBN-13: 978-0804119818
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #680,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"One of my all time favorite writers, Nicole Jordan delivers romance like no one else. Captivating, enticing, and irresistible, her books are always on my must buy list."--Sherrilyn Kenyon, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Nicole Jordan charms and captivates."--Jillian Hunter, New York Times bestselling author

New York Times bestselling author Nicole Jordan spins delightful tales that simmer with passion and sensuality. In her former life, Nicole grew up as an Army brat, moving frequently and attending high school in Germany. She later earned a civil engineering degree from Georgia Tech and spent eight years as a manufacturing manager making disposable diapers and toilet tissue! Currently Nicole lives in the Rocky Mountains of Utah with her real-life hero (her husband) and beloved kids (her horses).

With over two-dozen historical romances to her credit and five million books in print, set in numerous eras and locales, Nicole now enjoys chronicling the sparks that fly when Regency lovers play the matrimonial mating game.

One of her novels had the dubious honor of being humorously spotlighted by Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show." On a more serious note, Nicole's romances regularly appear on numerous bestseller lists, including The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today, and have earned such honors as RITA finalist, RWA's Favorite Book of the Year, theRomantic Times Career Achievement Award for Historical Romance, and the Dorothy Parker Award of Excellence, presented by a group of over one hundred romance reviewers.

Contact Nicole via her website www.NicoleJordanauthor.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner........, May 5, 2004

By 

D R. Brigance "fantasy dreamer" (AR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Master of Temptation (Mass Market Paperback)

The story of Caro and Max in Nicole Jordan's newest book Master of Temptation is one of enchantment. Set in the Mediterranean on the small island of Cyrene.
I think Nicole has out done herself in this one. The [adult] scenes, the emotion of losing loved ones, the adventure, and did I mention the [adult] scenes? I found Caro's role in this story a refreshing change of pace from the typical 18th century London debutantes. Caro was enjoyable as the bold, independent healer and warrior. Max became enamored with her abilities and her caring nature. Max definitely needed Caro as his emotional healer due to his nightmares over his best friends death in the war. Caro needed Max to make her feel more like a desired woman rather than just `one of the guys'.
As the story unfolds to reveal the mystery of the secret society called the Guardians, the time spent between the two of them begins to sizzle. This romance turns passionate and the passion turns to a love unbound.
As much as I enjoy the notorious series of books by Nicole Jordan, I am already in love with the more laid back, open mindedness of the islanders.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book!, May 27, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Master of Temptation (Mass Market Paperback)

Master of Temptation shows exactly why Nicole Jordan is on my must-read list. I loved everything about this book. Caro and Max were both wounded, intriguing, complex, wonderful characters. The action/suspense was fast-paced and thrilling. The setting was beautiful and exotic. The sex was HOT and perfect for the story. This book actually was not as steamy as some of Nicole Jordan's other books (such as Ecstasy). There were two love scenes in the first 200 pages and four more in the last 200 pages, but those were incredibly passionate and developed into wonderful, healing love between Max and Caro. Overall Master of Temptation is a superb read that I highly recommend. I can't wait for the next book in this delicious new series. Brava, Ms. Jordan.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More wonderful romance from Nicole Jordan..., June 10, 2004

By 

TypoQueen (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Master of Temptation (Mass Market Paperback)

...and I cannot wait for the next one! MASTER OF TEMPTATION has everything I love in a romance novel: a strong (but not obnoxious) heroine who is in no way ordinary, a back story which is compelling (the Guardians) but doesn't get in the way of the love story,
and of course a wonderful hero. Both the hero and the heroine have secrets of their own, which are slowly brought to light by the author, like layers being peeled from a (very good) onion....

But most of all I love the passion and the romance and the steaminess. It's the reason why I will ALWAYS buy her books. I am absolutely hooked on Ms. Jordan's novels, having only discovered them a couple of months ago. I have devoured all her NOTORIOUS series; all are "keepers", and I rarely want to reread a book, but wow!! I will definitely be re-reading hers!

If you want sensuous and heartfelt love and romance, you've come to the right place with this book, and certainly also with the NOTORIOUS series (The Passion, The Seduction, etc.).. I haven't read her other romances [from different subgenres], since I'm only into Regency-era novels, but I can hardly believe they'd be any less wonderful. That's because her writing is consistently satisfying. I can't say enough good things about her novels!

Thanking the author for many happy hours of reading pleasure!