Customer Reviews

Pure Temptation (Leisure historical romance)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

~~~ MAJOR Spoilers Alert~~~

I have been a big fan of Connie Mason ever since I read Lion's Bride but I found this story annoying at times. Connie Mason writes amazing love scenes, but it seems she use the same formula: girl is a virgin, but hides it; guy believes the girl is not a virgin despite her protests; guy realize she's not a virgin during intercourse, but goes on any way; from then onward guy has sex with girl whenever he feels angry, jealous, or any other powerful emotion...(Personally, I like the whole she gets pregnant at the end). I'm getting a little tired of the same 'secret virgin until sex' routine, but at least in this story, the male character's mind reels over her being a virgin and feels somewhat responsible.

The male character, Jackson, who is supposedly being a "rogue" is mistakenly labeled for Moira, the female character, was the true rogue. She's constantly lies and avoids telling the truth or what's on her mind even after they admit their love for one another and are married. That was the BIG thing she did that bother me because she did that throughout the whole book.

Moira claims she would never steal yet she takes money to get a passage. She get upset that Jackson didn't come after her even though she rejected him, stole his money to get away from him, and told him she didn't love him. The excuses of 'protecting him from society/danger', 'didn't want to be thrown in prison', 'gossip about her being his mistress', and etc. really gets old. I found those excuses made by an insecure, highly sensitive woman instead of a supposedly fiery, beautiful, stubborn, proud Irish woman. And I really doubt pregnancy hormones causes you to go that insane. The man is willing to put his life and heart on the line constantly doesn't convince her he's the one.

I hate how Jackson commends her about being so smart and cunning trying to escape. Holding in your breath, accepting someone's offer to escape, and hitting someone with a crowbar blindly in the dark are not smart or cunning.

I did enjoy Jackson's fits of possession and jealousy. It showed that his emotions were boiling along with his loins. It was adorable when he would reject every one of Moira's suitors and picture himself as her ideal husband. I also liked that Connie Mason added the historical element in her book about the Hellfire Club and Caves. I was surprised she added English gentry's dark, dirty secret especially in a romance novel. It's nice that she pushed the boundaries and tried something moodier and true to history.

~~End of MAJOR Spoilers~~

Jackson had such a vile temper that I could kind of see why Moira would constantly questioned his motives, but he would always explain himself (unlike Moira who thinks the worst of him when she's in doubt). I seriously found she lacked faith in him.

I would really advise not to read this book because I found the leading lady the most aggravating damsel-in-distress. I don't know how Jackson changed his ways because of her, but I'm betting it was sex for I don't see what else she offers. Maybe Jackson likes her ultra-sensitive emotions that drives her to act rash and unpredictable. If you just want to read great love scenes, I advise you to read only them and skip the in-between. There are plenty of them - all full of passion.

I really did enjoy the secondary characters (except Spence who was uptight and insensitive at times) and the whole family bonding. If you still want to read this story, but I gave away too much, I can promise you I only told you the things that I disliked like character traits not any major schemes and twists.

Well I have to say that Connie is one of my favorite writers. I have read just about everything she's put out at least once. This book I originally read years ago when it first came out and I decided to reread all of her books.

First off I have to say great cover! And Where can I get a man like that? Oh My! "Fanning myself"

Well on to the story. I would almost call this book gothic. It has a dark manor house that is haunted by a beautiful spirit Lady Amelia. She is trying to insure the that Jackson Greystoke doesn't drink, game and carouse himself to death. He is a rogue who needs taming. In steps our heroine Moria O'Toole. She is on the run from a dark secret when she is hit by the carriage that Jackson is riding in. He can't just leave her there do die so he takes her back to the manor. Now as she heals they discover the strong attraction between the two. They both try and resist but the fates or is that the spirits have willed it. But before they can be happy there is Moria's secret to deal with and Jackson's own fears of marriage and love.

There are some very hot love scenes in this book but what would a Connie book be without them? I really enjoyed this book and plan to reread it again and again.

This book was awesome. I couldn't put this book down at all. The ghost was cool because he was trying straighten Jackson, because he was known as a lady's man until he met Moira. Then he started to care. Read this book it was great.

I loved this book!! I think Connie Mason has mastered the art of sensual romance. Her stories are always tasteful and romantic but they also burn the pages! Her characters are smart and very funny.

The gist is: A penniless, untitled rake has given himself up to perdition by gambling, womanizing and drinking, when his life was rudely disrupted by the unwanted intervention of a family ghost set on saving him. The ghost somehow orchestrated to have "Jack" go out into a stormy night where on his way home, he believed his carriage had run over a young, beautiful woman named Moira. Unbeknownst to Jack and his best friend who was present during the carriage accident, Moira was on the run from her the evil, debraved son of her former employer.
Jack and his best friend placed a wager that they could pass Moira, the daughter of a farmer and former servant, as a lady. The plan was: Jack would marry a rich woman to solve his financial problems, and Moira would find a rich husband so she could help her struggling farmer brother in Ireland. However, they didn't count on themselves falling in love with each other. Because of Moira, Jack found he couldn't be the drinking, womanizing, gambling rake he once was, even if he tried!
This was a typical Historical Romance, with all the usual ingredients: The fallen man who becomes reformed by the love of a woman, the pure hearted woman trying to escape evil and do what's right even if it means denying her own heart, and the abominable villain who threatens to ruin all that is good. The only unusual element, is the family ghost.
Even though the story was unremarkable, I still enjoyed the book every step of the way. Jack is so forward and verbal about what he feels and wants from Moira, that it's a breath of fresh air. It drives me batty when characters hide their feelings of love creating an atmosphere of uncertainty and doubt that's infuriating. Moira is not so forward, and bends the truth and hides her feelings, but with good intentions. But I found I liked her anyway, because she seems so sincere in trying to make things right, even with her limited power. The plot moves very quickly, and the villain is always around the corner, to keep the suspense going. The sex scenes were plentiful and every encounter except one was described in great detail, never lagging to the end, so you get the sense that the characters never got enough of it.
I wasn't going to read this book at first because of the cover, and because my favorite romance review page gave it a "D", but I'm glad I did. It was like watching a nice, feel-good movie.

In 1795 London, "Black" Jack Graystoke relishes the finer things in life, women and gambling. Tired after an evening of revelry, he goes to sleep at the dilapidated family home, Graystoke Manor only to have his two century or so dead relative albeit her ghost Lady Amelia insist he leave his bed to search for an unknown something.

Jack accidentally runs over unemployed Irish farmer's Moira O'Toole. He takes her to Graystoke so she can heal where his best friend Spencer Fenwick concocts an impish scheme to make Moira Jack's ward so they can find her a wealthy husband. Jack is attracted to her and believes she reciprocates, but he needs a wealthy spouse as well so he plans to propose to Lady Victoria Greene. Still he cannot resist the lure of his ward and they become lovers. When lies and omissions lead to their break-up, danger mounts for both of them with love and Lady Amelia giving them a ghost of a chance for survival.

PURE TEMPTATION is a reprint of an entertaining late Georgian ghost romance filled with spirit and love. Fast-paced, fans will enjoy this fun paranormal historical though the enemies' subplot feels somewhat intrusive.

Harriet Klausner

For me I thought the beginning of the book was ok but towards the middle and the ending it was exciting and a page turner for me and as always Connie Mason has great love scenes...

Jack and Moira were great together, Moira's family, you just can't help but just fall in love with her family and her grandfather who she finally got to know in the end.

If you decide to get this book I hope you enjoy it has I did great action, a page turner and great characters what you would expect from a Connie Mason novel

I read this book a while ago, and it was my first Connie Mason book. This is the book that made Connie Mason one of my favorite authors.I recomend this book to anyone who wants a can't put down, can't stop reading experience.

This is another typical great book from Mrs. Mason when looking for books on the net I pull up the authors and a list of thier books. Connie Mason is one of the first that I click on. Don't fail to get this one. The ghost of Amelia is on a roll with Black Jack. It's a "can't put down" book. Great job Connie!

Moira wasn't the kind of heroine I like...she lied constantly, denied her feelings for Jack - constantly - and resorted to stealing even while claiming to be no thief. Too ridiculous.

Jack wasn't bad. I don't think the author did a good job of describing him, though; i.e. his looks, and his personality. He would go from being happy to downright angry and vice versa. There was no in-between with this guy.

Spence had a lot of potential, but Jack shut him out too much. Spence was his very good friend, probably his best friend, yet Jack didn't like to confide in him and only did so when he had no other choice. That made no sense. Spence was loyal, Jack wasn't.

And lastly, the story dragged and was too repetitious. I will say that the author is good at making bad guys bad.