Tempt Me Twice [Mass Market Paperback]

Barbara Dawson Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 17, 2001

A rogue shrouded in mystery, Lord Gabriel Kenyon returns from abroad to find himself guardian of Kate Talisford, the girl he had betrayed four years earlier. Now sworn to protect her, he fights his attraction to the spirited young woman. Although Kate wants nothing to do with the scoundrel who had once scorned her, Gabriel is the only man who can help her recover a priceless artifact stolen from her late father. On a quest to outwit a murderous villain, she soon discovers her true adventure lies with Gabriel himself, a seducer whose tempting embrace offers an irresistible challenge--to uncover his secrets and claim his heart forever...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Far-fetched, formulaic and flat, this lightweight Regency provides few thrills but plenty of melodrama. In an effort to stop talented sketch artist Gabriel Kenyon and her father, Henry, from journeying to Africa in search of a ruined city, 16-year-old Kate Talisford offers herself to Gabe only to be summarily rejected. Four years later, Gabe returns to inform Kate and her younger sister of their father's death and finds that Sir Charles, a friend of Henry's, has already imparted the news. Still angry with Gabe for spurning her, Kate is stunned to learn that her father asked him to be their guardian, especially since Sir Charles claims that he was charged with the task. Kate knows that one of the men is lying; predictably, she assumes that it is Gabe. Even after Gabe reveals that Sir Charles killed her father to get his hands on a priceless statue, Kate remains distrustful of him. Nonetheless, she agrees to take part in a harebrained scheme to retrieve the statue and falls in love with Gabe while carrying out the plan. The narrative's clich‚d dialogue and numerous cliffhanger endings only contribute to the novel's exaggerated feel, and the histrionics of Smith's (Romancing the Rogue) headstrong characters will alienate rather than engage the reader. (Sept.)Forecast: Smith will be lucky if readers are tempted even once by this offering.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Barabar Dawson Smith is wonderful!"--Affaire de Coeur

"Barbara Dawson Smith makes magic."--Romantic Times

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; 1st edition (September 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312979495
• ISBN-13: 978-0312979492
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,264,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Her Best, November 24, 2001

By 

Sheri Melnick (Enola, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tempt Me Twice (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1812 England, Kate Talisford and her younger sister, Meg, are forced to move to a smaller dwelling after the death of their father, Professor Henry Talisford. Both girls are startled when Lord Gabriel Kenyon appears on their doorstep after accompanying their father on his expedition to Africa four years prior. Kate is especially embarrassed, recalling her previous declaration of undying love for Gabriel and promised seduction if he would convince her father to abandon his expedition. But Gabriel hasn't forgotten Kate and finds her more attractive than he did four years ago.

As he informs the girls that he is now their guardian, he warns them away from Sir Charles Damson. Gabe believes that Sir Charles is responsible for Henry's death and subsequent theft of a valuable artifact that Henry discovered. Romantic tension sizzles between Gabriel and Kate as Meg and Kate accompany Gabriel to his grandmother's estate and begin their search for the missing artifact.

Though the love scenes are sufficiently steamy, the romance seems a little contrived as Gabriel hardly seems the type of man to carry a torch for a sixteen-year-old girl for four years and then give up his wandering for her. And, while Yasmin's reappearance in England could tie up some loose ends and supply some angst to Gabe and Kate's relationship, the reader is left in the dark concerning the exotic Yasmin's seduction of Gabriel and subsequent association with Sir Charles. Fans of this author will recognize Gabriel as the younger brother of Michael, the hero in ROMANCING THE ROGUE. Avid readers of Ms. Dawson Smith shouldn't be too disappointed with her latest read, but it probably won't generate a lot of new fans.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, September 15, 2002

By 

Holly Fuhrmann (PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tempt Me Twice (Mass Market Paperback)

Gabriel Kenyon returns from Africa seeking revenge on the man who killsed his partner. He also finds himself responsible for his parner's daughters. But he'd rather face the wilds of Africa than face Kate Talisford, a girl he's sworn to protect...a girl he longs to possess. As Kate and Gabriel search for her father's killer and a priceless statue, they find that maybe the true treasure is the bond that they're forging...a bond that could be love.

Barbara Dawson Smith tells a fantastic historical story, full of intrigue, fun and of course, love.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tempting indeed!, January 21, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Tempt Me Twice (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a wonderful romantic adventure with a plot and pace that never let up as orphaned Kate plunges into a wild search involving an ancient Egyptian icon and a truly chilling group of Regency bad guys. Gabriel is the perfect hero--reluctant, sexy and ultimately redeemed by the love of a good woman. Barbara Dawson Smith is one of the most consistently excellent authors in the genre.