Tempt Me At Twilight by Lisa Kleypas *Raw and Unedited Exclusive*
Monday, February 2, 2009 21:04
Please remember this is RAW and Unedited which means it could change or may not make it into the book.
We will compare it to what happens when the book is done to see how it changes (if it does) and as always thanks for playing Lisa 
Tempt Me at Twilight by Lisa Kleypas
From Lisa:
The eccentric Hathaway family is staying at the Rutledge Hotel during the London social season. While chasing her sister’s ferret, who has stolen an intimate love letter, Poppy Hathaway encounters a handsome and mysterious stranger. He takes her to a private room, and for a moment Poppy wonders if he’ll let her go . . .
Tap. Tap. Tap.
They both turned at the sound. The maid had arrived. “I must go,” Poppy said uneasily.
“My governess will be very distressed if she wakes to find me missing.” The dark-haired stranger contemplated her for what seemed a very long time. “I’m not finished with you yet,” he said with stunning casualness. As if no one ever refused him anything. As if he planned to keep her prisoner for as long as he wished.
Poppy took a deep breath. “Nevertheless, I am leaving,” she said calmly, and went to the door.
He reached it at the same time she did, one large hand flattening against the door panel.
Alarm jolted through her, and she turned to face him. A swift, frantic throbbing awakened in her throat and wrists and the backs of her knees. He was standing much too close, his long, hard body nearly touching hers. She shrank against the wall, away from the sheer force of his masculine presence. When she brought herself to look up into his cool green eyes, he smiled.
A dangerous smile.
“Before you leave,” he said softly, “I have some advice for you. It’s not safe for a young woman to wander alone through the hotel. Don’t take such a foolish risk again.”
Poppy stiffened a little. “It’s a reputable hotel,” she said. “I have nothing to fear.”
“Of course you do,” he murmured. “You’re looking right at it.”
And before she could think, or move, or breathe, he bent his head and took her mouth with his.
Stunned, Poppy went motionless beneath the soft, burning kiss, so subtle in its demand that she wasn’t aware of the moment her own lips parted. His hands came to her jaw, cradling, angling her face upward. She felt him taste her with a gently searching stroke, in a kiss more intimate than anything she had ever known. And with a stranger.
She lifted her hands to push him away, but he put his arms around her, bringing her body fully against his, and the feel of him was hard and richly stimulating. Her skin turned hot, oversensitive, excited nerves craving the cool glide of his fingertips along her throat.
With every breath, she drew in an enticing scent, an incense of amber and musk, starched linen and male skin. She should have struggled in his arms . . . but his mouth was so tenderly persuasive, erotic, imparting messages of peril and promise. He tasted her again, deeper this time, and then his lips slid to her throat. He hunted for her pulse, working his way downward, layering sensations like silken gauze until she shivered and arched away from him. “Don’t,” she said weakly.
The stranger gripped her chin carefully, forcing her to look at him. They both went still. As Poppy met his searching gaze, she saw a flash of baffled animosity, as if he had just made some unwelcome discovery.
He let go of her with great care and opened the door. “Bring it in,” he told the maid, who waited at the threshold with a large silver tea tray.
The servant obeyed quickly, too well-trained to evince curiosity about Poppy’s presence in the room.
The man went to retrieve Dodger, who had fallen asleep in his chair. Returning with the drowsy ferret, he gave it to Poppy. She took Dodger with an inarticulate murmur, cradling him against her midriff.
“Will there be anything else, sir?” the maid asked.
“Yes. I want you to accompany this lady to her suite. And come back to inform me when she is safely returned.”
“Yes, Mr. Rutledge.”
Mr. Rutledge?
Poppy felt her heart stop. She looked back at the stranger. Deviltry glittered in his green eyes. He seemed to relish her open astonishment.
Harry Rutledge . . . the mysterious and reclusive owner of the hotel. Who was nothing at all as she had imagined him to be.
Bewildered and mortified, Poppy turned from him. She crossed the threshold and heard the door close, the latch clicking smoothly shut. How wicked he was, to have amused himself at her expense! She consoled herself with the knowledge that she would never see him again.
And she went down the hallway with the housemaid . . . never suspecting that the course of her entire life had just changed.
© Lisa Kleypas. All rights reserved
limecello says:
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:19 pm
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
ok. that’s all.
Misty G says:
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 pm
Holy Crap On A Stick! That looks awesome!!!! I love her historicals.
Elyssa Papa says:
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:38 pm
I heart LK. She’s totally influenced me, both as a reader and as a writer. I would cry buckets meeting her and SEP. This snippet is great; I’m really looking forward to this book. And hope there are plans for a book starring Beatrice (sp.) Hathaway.
c2 says:
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
Sybil says:
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 pm
The date on here could change. It is just what I have down. I will double check with Lisa in the morning. If it changes I will update that post.
LOL the excerpt is so raw it isn’t even up on amazon yet but she does so know we like it that way *eg*
katiebabs says:
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:02 pm
That was too good for words
Dev says:
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 pm
I want to read this now! It’s going to be a long wait until we get to compare this with the book, hmm?
Lori says:
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Yippeee Skippeee!!!!
Pam P says:
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Oooh, now it will be harder to wait, Dev.
Rosie says:
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Joining the halleluia chorus here… Excellent!
Marg says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:56 am
Sigh…….. and now we wait! Another great teaser!
Lisa Kleypas says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:07 am
Hello dears! Just wanted to drop in to say hi, and I’m glad you enjoyed the excerpt . . . Ellysa, I would so love to meet you someday! Good luck with your writing–the world needs more contemporary romances
Sarah says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:17 am
Thank you thank you THANK YOU for sharing this Lisa and Sybil!! Made my Tuesday.
Gwen says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:28 am
**huge sigh**
Oh I CAN’T WAIT!! This has been such a fun, satisfying series! I gotta go read that again.
Sybil says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:59 am
Is it too soon to ask for more *eg*
Lisa Kleypas says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:57 am
I’ll tell you this much . . . Harry’s just done something EVIL . . . major grovel will have to occur . . .
heh heh
Jane A says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:11 am
Oh yes! A good grovel scene trumps all!!
katiebabs says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:12 am
Lisa, is there a hot sex on the table after I grovel scene?
Lisa Kleypas says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:15 am
Great suggestion, Katie! . . . I think that is the proper way to end a grovel! *g*
Or maybe on the floor . . .
katiebabs says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:17 am
Or on a balcony in the rain…
heh
Sybil says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:32 am
I have always had a thing for elevators *g* but that is a different subject all together or stairwells…
YO! lisa you still around
if so can you answer a lil question pleaseeeeeeeeee
like way ass off topic
and a whole other series and to shut katie up and only if you promise to agree with me *g*
uh otherwise go work on your book tra la la
Devon says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:09 am
Nice! And might I say, lovely picture of LK.
I really have to read Seduce Me at Sunrise. Can you believe I haven’t read it yet? Damn you, life!
Kim says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:29 am
Interesting excerpt. Even after reading it, Rutledge is still mysterious.
Jennie says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I loooooooooooved SMAS, but I am looking so forward to Poppy & Harry’s story. I hate wishing life away. It would be so much easier if my favorite authors could just write books every week or so.
Thanks for the excerpt. It’s fabulous as expected.
Oh and I really like that suggestion for a romp on the balcony in the rain. That’s unique and different. Unique and different = great sex!
Pam P says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:36 pm
From what I can see of Harry so far, boy is he going to hate groveling.
Santa says:
February 4th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
YES! YES! YES!
I’m just sayin’!
And I know exactly what you mean, Elyssa. Lisa is a phenomenal writer and an inspiration to me as well. She is as nice in person as she is on-line.
Lisa Kleypas says:
February 4th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Thank you Santa sweetie! It’s easy to be nice to you–you are so terrific
Nikki H says:
February 8th, 2009 at 10:33 am
I am so a member of this adoring group. Can’t wait.
Clavie says:
February 8th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
OMG!!
This totally made my day! I can’t wait for it
I’m so excited it’s not even funny.
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
KristieJ says:
February 9th, 2009 at 6:02 am
*sigh* Now I hate having to wait. It sounds delicious – and a grovel – I love that!!
Meg the Conqueress says:
February 11th, 2009 at 12:38 am
After shrieking with joy and running around my chair a few times, I hope I can get out something coherent.
I’m going to love this Rutledge guy; I do already, in fact. St. Vincent and Derek Craven have been my favorite of Lisa’s heroes so far–anyone see a pattern here? LOL. The heroes that intrigue me the most are the ones that walk the fence between good guy and villain…and if they fall, you never know quite where they’ll land, especially when it comes to the measures they’ll take to keep the woman they love.
My guess is that Rutledge confiscated the aforementioned love letter.
Favorite line:
“Poppy stiffened a little. ‘It’s a reputable hotel,’ she said. ‘I have nothing to fear.’
‘Of course you do,” he murmured. “You’re looking right at it.’” Classic Kleypas. SWOON.
On another note, glad to see Dodger being his feisty, meddling self
I’ve become deeply attached to all the Hathways, even their pet 
I’m really curious about Poppy…she seems very down-to-earth while dealing with her, er, rather eccentric family.
I’m also looking forward to seeing more of Leo and Miss Marks’s burgeoning relationship. Leo’s evolution was one of my favorite things about SMAS; he’s such a wonderfully complicated, quirky, hilarious, brooding guy all in one. And something tells me Miss Marks has her own considerable baggage to bring to the table
And Lisa, if you’re still around here somewhere–and I don’t really know how to say this without sounding like a crazed fangirl–but I am absolutely in awe of everything you write, especially your historical romances. It boggles my mind how much research about the time period it must take to achieve that level of detail. And your character introspection cannot be matched. Thank you for what you do. /crazed fangirl rant
Gwen says:
February 11th, 2009 at 8:19 am
Did anyone else picture Meg the Conqueress running around her chair in glee?
Meg – I’m with you on the bad boys. Those are my fav fav fav heroes from Kleypas’s books.
Though I did love the hero from Suddenly You and he wasn’t so much bad as he was different. Gosh. Inappropriate? No. Just different I guess.
deli says:
February 13th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
oh my goodness….now THATS what i call hot! classic! cant wait to read it! i completely and totally agree with you there meg. Might i also mention that i absolutely ADORE dodger? lol. ohh i do love a good grovel scene, he’s not gonna like it very much…but we sure will. I smell a good lisa kleypas tissue moment!
oh and lisa if youre still there, i was wondering if youre gonna write about bee? im dying to see what kinda guy she’d end up with! and her huge array of pets are amazing!
Yraney says:
February 16th, 2009 at 5:10 am
I cannot tell you how excited I am right now it feels like I want to jump right out of my skin and laugh and scream and cry all at the same time. Knowing that the book is going to be good is even worse. THE WAIT IS KILLING ME.
AnimeJune says:
February 16th, 2009 at 9:47 am
This reader finds herself wondering how this hotel manages to stay so successful when the owner accosts and threatens young ladies of good breeding? Not very professional of him, wouldn’t you say?
Eehhh, I guess it wouldn’t be Lisa Kleypas if the hero was a beta.
…I still think romances could do with a few more betas.
Kate says:
February 18th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Wait, wait! Yes, I’m squeeeeeing along with the rest of you, but I’m also confused- I assumed ‘Tempt Me’ was going to be Leo’s book. Does this mean I have to wait another year for him? Gaaaaahhhh! Lisa, if you weren’t so fantastic I wouldn’t be so frustrated!
Kim says:
February 18th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Someone on another BB posted this description about the book from amazon.uk :
“Engaged to the very sensible Michael Bayning, Poppy Hathaway is content with her lot having longed for a life of normalcy. That is, until she meets a mysterious hotel owner, Harry Rutledge, the most complicated and dangerous man she has ever met. Harry is wealthy and powerful, a collector of secrets, with hobbies more dangerous than Poppy could imagine. What Harry wants, Harry gets and Harry wants Poppy, like he has never wanted a woman in his life. So when Michael breaks off their engagement and Harry makes his move, Poppy quickly learns that her life is destined to be anything but normal – filled with wild, passionate days and steamy nights…”
diana santiago says:
February 18th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
i just discoverd lisa kleypas last summer and have read every book she has written , i cant wait to read poppy’s story. the wait seems so long. i hope she has plans for leo and miss marks.
Meg the Conqueress says:
February 18th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Kate, I feel your pain
But look at it this way…waiting longer for Leo/Miss Marks will be better in the long run because we’ll get a slow build-up throughout the course of the other books in the series, giving us many more moments of unresolved sexual tension than we would’ve had if “Tempt Me” at been Leo’s book. Also, it’ll be more realistic to have Leo wait longer for his love…Lisa said that he’s still not over losing Laura. My only question now is this: which comes after Poppy’s story, Leo’s or Beatrix’s? Either way, a longer wait means a more satisfying end 
And regarding the description: I’m venturing a guess that Harry is responsible for Michael breaking up with Poppy, after he undoubtedly confiscates that love letter from Dodger
Kate says:
February 18th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Meg-
But, but…. well, okay, you have a point. dang.
Now can you tell me where/when Lisa said this about Leo not yet over Laura? thanks!
Meg the Conqueress says:
February 18th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
LOL. I know, I know, I have to keep reminding myself that Lisa has a grand plan…while rereading the Leo/Marks scenes over and over again in SMAS. I can quote them word for word, now
Obsessed, thy name is Meg.
But as to the quote, here’s the link. I saw it on a fansite for Eloisa James, I believe, but if you’ll scroll down one entry from the top, you’ll see where the poster has direct quotes from Lisa. The poster seems legit, but I wish I knew where she got that interview…I feel weird emailing her about it.
http://www.eloisajames.net/board/viewtopic.php?p=117477&sid=e334cd5e1d631033406ac2af10fc9e55
Kate says:
February 19th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
thanks, Meg!
I’m now quite a bit more excited- especially if Rutledge is similar to St. Vincent! Double squeeeeee! My only problem is that, well, Poppy has always seemed so much younger than Amelia and Win. I know she was 19 (I think) in SMAS but in MTM I thought of her and Bea as children. And now this Rutledge sounds like he at least must be in his mid, late 30′s. Oh well, fortunately, my trust in LIsa is greater than my skepticism.
Meg the Conqueress says:
February 19th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
You’re welcome
The problem you’re having with Poppy is the problem I’m having with Bea, LOL. Poppy was indeed 19 in SMAS (which, according to Bea, made her practically a spinster already) but I’m guessing that by the time TMAT comes out, she’ll be 20 or 21. If I’m recalling correctly, Evie was about the same age at the beginning of “Devil in Winter,” whereas St. Vincent was early to mid thirties. Lisa does that a lot, but she always manages to pull it off splendidly…that, and I also have a bit of a (slightly) older man fetish (I’m 22), so that may be clouding my judgment a bit, LOL
It’s thinking of Bea in any kind of, er, mature context that squicks me out at the moment, which is why I’m hoping Leo/Mark’s story comes after Poppy’s…to give Bea time to believably mature from the innocent child who collects pets to a heroine who has to carry an entire novel. I’m sure Lisa’s aware of this, though. I just wish she’d tell us the order the rest of the series will be in. I’m dying, here!
Liz says:
February 22nd, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Wow, it sounds great!! I can’t wait! I love all your historical romance novels, Lisa! Most especially the Wallflower and the Hathaways’ series!
Marissa says:
February 24th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I really wanted Leo’s book next instead of Poppy’s but this excerpt has totally changed my mind! I can’t wait for Poppy’s book now! Harry Rutledge seems like a great hero…although would you expect anything less from Lisa Kleypas? I really look forward to some more tension between Leo and the governess too. I wish all writers could be as prolific with such high quality as Lisa. She never disappoints me with a book!
Ashley P.L says:
February 26th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
oh wow oh wow oh wow!
those are the only words that come to mind after reading that!
i am so unbelievably excited and cannot wait!
any way it can come out before october? ; )
and lisa is an amazing writer
i can never get enough of her work
all of the books i have of hers are ridiculously battered from too much re-reading
thanks for the information everyone. . .
now time to start the countdown!
Elaine C. says:
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Oh my I just so ADORE Lisa Kleypas… she is the Queen of historical romance IMO. I love how she weaves erotic love stories with fully developed characters and introduces secondary characters that she seamlessly transitions into their own novels. Kleypas is just BRILLIANT. I can’t wait for Poppy & Henry’s story!!!
Sybil says:
March 7th, 2009 at 11:39 am
If you haven’t read it yet… Lisa has posted an excerpt at her site.
Marg says:
March 7th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
And now having read that excerpt, I am wondering how I can possible wait another few months to read the book! So good!
Michelle says:
March 12th, 2009 at 5:46 am
That was amazing! i love lisa kleypas, the first book i read was ‘Devil in Winter’ and up until now is my MOST favorite book (God, you should see the creases on that book)… Guess, i know what my mama be giving me for my bday! hehehehe, too bad its not out yet!
Michelle says:
March 12th, 2009 at 5:48 am
by the way, anyone know what distemper pox is? Is it even a real disease?
Vrushali says:
March 24th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Sure is! can’t wait for the book. I loved ‘Devil in Winter’ my book has a lot of creases as well !!! I agree with Gwen I loved the hero from Suddenly you. And I cant wait for ‘Smooth talking Stranger’ I liked all of LK’s contemporary romances .
Kim says:
March 24th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
The Dear Author website is giving away 20 copies of Smooth Talking Stranger. Readers just have to spread the word about their campaign to save the contemporary novel and you get an entry.
http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/03/24/save-the-contemporary-smooth-talking-stranger-by-lisa-kleypas/
Sal says:
April 10th, 2009 at 6:04 am
OMG!!! Wow *sigh* I can’t wait for this now! I absolutely LOVE all Lisa Kleypas books, she’s a real inspiration.
Packy says:
April 15th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
Really, why do you tempt us with this? Now we have to wait forever to read it! I too thought that Leo’s story would surely be next, but I guess it doesn’t matter. Any story you write is always awesome! I love your characterization and humor. Please try to convince the publishers to publish your books faster. hahaha. Thank you and good luck! I admire your work a lot, Lisa. You’ve done uncomparable writings. My favorite will always be Devil in Winter and Blue Eyed Devil, and then everything is super SUPER awesome!
Sally says:
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Looks good!
Laura says:
May 3rd, 2009 at 1:57 pm
Guess what? The cover for the book is on Amazon. The US cover. It’s gorgeous. Here’s the link
http://www.amazon.com/Tempt-Me-Twilight-Hathaways-Book/dp/0312949820/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241376936&sr=8-2
Meg the Conqueress says:
May 5th, 2009 at 12:25 am
That’s a beautiful cover! The woman’s face, even if it’s only half of it, looks exactly like I pictured Poppy. *bounces up and down in excitement* Soooo looking forward to this book xD
However, I’m troubled by a thought that never really occured to me before reading a poster on another site voice the same concern: what if Lisa doesn’t have an entire novel in mind for Leo? I always just assumed she would, but what if she just weaves it into the remaining sisters’ novels and leaves it at that? *covers eyes* I mean, I’ll take all the Leo/Marks I can get, but I’m really, REALLY hoping for an entire novel. Leo’s such a layered character and Miss Marks is even moreso…we need an entire book to explore her mysterious, scandalous past, and to make the evolution of Leo and Marks’s relationship go at a believable pace, dang it!
Has anyone heard Lisa’s take on the “Leo gets his own book” issue? Even if she wasn’t planning on it, maybe everyone’s avid interest will be enough to convince her…
Michelle says:
May 6th, 2009 at 1:51 am
Honestly, I haven’t heard that rumor but i’d love Leo to have hi own book… although, like you i’ll take as much leo/marks as i can get…. but the series is about the Hathaways and Leo is technically the head of that family, so, I hope he has his own book *goes down on knees and prays that it is so*
Anne says:
June 4th, 2009 at 12:44 am
I’ve read somewhere that Leo’s (w/ miss marks of course) story will be next after Poppy’s… I’ve read it somewhere I just forgot the link.
Josie says:
June 17th, 2009 at 2:53 am
I’m so completely in love with this series. I was really hoping for Leo as a lot of you were. Although the juicy excerpt such as this one is making more excited for the release. The character are defiantly more mature this book. We didn’t get much of Poppy in the other books. I’m glad she’s getting her own book. Harry’s character reminds me of St.Vincent as well. An adventure seeker, with a take anything and everything I want atitude. I love it.
Roxanne Alexis says:
June 24th, 2009 at 9:39 am
Argh, I haven’t even read the book yet n now i think i’m in love with Rutledge. Lisa, once again, you’ve outdone yourself.
Kim says:
September 8th, 2009 at 9:15 am
The first three chapters and part of the epilogue can now be downloaded for free.
http://books.google.com/books?id=gD_3fBAEkowC&dq=tempt+me+at+twilight+by+lisa+kleypas&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=-_QJAAmpWD&sig=VLeAYBVQJiH9IPfi8yT-Ky0FjXQ&hl=en&ei=L9qiSvrjIY2onQed4tHSBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Bina says:
September 9th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
OMG!!! The first few chapters were awesome!!!! OMG, I can’t wait. Three more weeks. I’m so happy Kleypas is giving us more Ms. Marks and Leo interaction. Yahoo!!! Bea’s comment about the two was soooo funny! LOL!
Meg the Conqueress says:
September 10th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
SQUEEEEE. Harry’s quite an odd little duck, isn’t he? As predicted, I did get the cerebral villain-y St. Vincent vibe off of him, which is always my favorite kind of hero…one that needs the lurve of a good woman to tame his wicked ways, LOL. And I’m liking Poppy a lot so far. I love how she’s just an ordinary girl looking for an ordinary life. There’s something about the way LK writes heroines that makes the reader feel like she knows them as friends. And Leo/Miss Marks? Hot already. Poor Miss Marks, I absolutely cannot wait to find out about her past. I hope it doesn’t involve a long-lost baby, though, seeing as that’s been done with Lily Lawson in “Then Came You.” But gawd. So freakin’ excited. Preordered and everything!
The Good, The Bad and The Unread » Time for Temptation: Q&A with Lisa Kleypas says:
September 28th, 2009 at 10:03 am
[...] read Tempt Me at Twilight you can check out excerpts: on her site here, the ‘raw’ one here (that didn’t change much) and the new one [...]