Gwen’s review of Don’t Tempt Me by Sylvia Day
Historical romance released by Brava 1 Apr 08

Sylvia Day’s historicals are, in a word, amazing stories. I have yet to finish one with a frown.  I invariably have a big ol’ smile and say, “Aww! What a GOOD BOOK!” You know the kind – you never want them to end. Don’t Tempt Me is no exception.

Read on to see if you will also want to read this terrific book.

Day’s historicals differ from her paranormals (which are largely based in modern day) in that they seem to be driven more by the characters. Her paranormals (like Heat of the Night) seem to be more plot driven. That’s not to say there isn’t plenty of plot in the historicals – there is, it’s just more about the people than the events.  Her historicals are juicy, meaty stories you can really sink your teeth into (I’m using that metaphor a lot lately). And, gosh, do you ever get to sink your teeth in DTM.

The hero is Simon Quinn. We meet him in one of my favorite books of all time, Passion For the Game. Simon is an altogether yummy man – tall, dark, and handsome. He’s earthy but sophisticated, human but superhuman at the same time. He’s trying to retire as a spy for the crown, but the crown won’t let him just yet. They give him one last mission, and then his superior resorts to extortion to make Simon take it.

The heroine is Lynette Baillon, daughter of a vicomtess and a surviving identical twin. She’s an interesting character who you come to love thru the book. She’s dedicated to her family and obedient, but still has her own mind. She’s a fun heroine, though we learn less about her than we do Simon.

Hey. Wait. There are more h’s and h’s. There are two more heroes and two more heroines in this story and their romances don’t detract in the least. They’re people you learn to love and relationships you ache for equally and then cheer when it happens.  Talk about a meaty story.

The intrigue woven throughout the book is another excellent element. There are crosses, double-crosses, triple-crosses. Simon does a masterful job at the end to sort thru all the tendrils of intrigue and he arrives at some startling conclusions.

Oh, and then there’s Day’s signature super-hot sex scenes. The first time Simon and Lynette get together literally smokes up the pages. The very cool thing about Day’s eroticism, though, is that it is a part of the story and not the reason for the story (something a few EC writers could stand to learn). In fact, there is less sex in this book than there is others of her’s I’ve read, but what is there is oh-so-yummy.

This is a terrific book and one I highly recommend to fans of historical romance. In fact, I think this book would be interesting to anyone who likes character-driven romances, historical or not. Don’t miss this book.

Grade: A

From the back cover:

     Book Summary:

     WHO IS SHE?

     Simon Quinn can have any woman he wants, but he prefers them jaded, worldly, and free of illusions. His life is one of danger and temporary pleasures. An Irish commoner, he has nothing more than his expertise as a lover and mercenary to recommend him and no title, property, or family to redeem him.

     Lysette Rousseau is a deadly beauty who can seduce or betray with equal skill. She should be just the sort of woman Simon entertains, but something about her sets him on edge. At times she is a femme fatale he cannot abide, at others she is warm, sweet, and irresistibly alluring. His reactions to both sides of her are equally powerful, but for opposite reasons. It seems almost as if there are two women in one…

     TWINS!

     …one wounded and exploited, the other innocent but strong. Lynette Rousseau will do anything to reclaim the sister who doesn’t remember her. She will gain the proficiency required to enter the underworld her sibling occupies. But how will she defend herself against the enigmatic, seductive Simon Quinn? A man who can liberate Lysette, but whose insatiable desires may ensnare Lynette forever…

     Read an excerpt.