Sandy M’s review of Lord of Temptation (Lords of Pembrook, Book 2) by Lorraine Heath
Historical Romance published by Avon 25 Sep 12

If I had the time, Lorraine Heath’s books would those I’d read over and over and over again. Her writing is rich and luscious. Her characters reach into your heart and make you feel every emotion from one end of the spectrum to the other. Intriguing story lines take the reader so deeply into those characters’ lives, you feel like you’re part of every word on the page. My opinion? Lorraine Heath is the best at what she does.

The Lord of Temptation, Tristan Easton, is the middle brother of the three Pembrook lords who had to run for their lives at a young age when their uncle was out to extinguish their existence to get his hands on the dukedom he’d always wanted. Now that the eldest has been reinstated as the rightful duke, Tristan is itching to get back to his life on the high seas. Just before his decision to do so is made, into the seedy bar where he’s hiding in the shadows walks a fascinating beauty with a backbone of steel and a mind as keen as any he’s ever seen. The woman makes an outlandish request, one he refuses to accept. Which is really too bad, he’d certainly like to have such a strong lady warming his bed.

Anne has a mission, one her father and brothers will not help her with and will be quite upset about once they discover she’s taking the steps to complete. She needs to go to Crimea to say farewell to her fiance, who fought and died there. What she needs is Captain Crimson Jack, who, she’s been told, is a fair man and will get her safely to her destination. Not used to being denied or so improperly propositioned, Anne will not let the captain’s refusal deter her. Bad luck to have a woman aboard ship? Ha!

Not able to keep Anne out of his head, when Tristan comes across her again, he’s determined to enjoy the passion he can feel pass between them. His bargain for seeing her across the ocean is a kiss. With a bit of seduction in mind, of course. To give himself time with Anne, Tristan takes the scenic route to Crimea. If he’s going to be giving her over to another man when they arrive, he’s determined to have her to himself for as long as possible, not realizing what Anne is truly going to be doing once she finds her fiance. When he does find out, all bets are off on their voyage home.

She realizes this time on their trip back to England can be their only time together, and I thoroughly enjoyed those lovemaking scenes aboard ship. Anne’s father is looking for a husband for her, so she will be out of Tristan’s reach, but neither of them can let go. It is Anne who makes the break, and I kept wondering how in the world Ms. Heath will work out their HEA. We know she will, it’s just the getting there that always churns readers’ emotions along the way. I am glad Anne comes to her senses because her betrothed is a jerk. But that still doesn’t mean she and Tristan will be together. There’s so much more to overcome. Anne wants a conventional life with a husband at home, kids, no scandal, a house full of love. Tristan is headed back to sea, the only place where he has peace and feels at home.

What makes these books so good for me is the untenable relationships between the brothers. As much as they love each other, they spent too many years apart to pick up where they left off, once they’re back in Britain. Sebastian is the one who tries to bridge the gap as best he can. Tristan plays the middle brother but without much result. Their younger brother, Rafe, is the one who is the most emotionally scarred, blame resting on his brothers’ shoulders for leaving him alone all those years ago still very much a part of his life. As Ms. Heath has done in the past before, I’m expecting his book to be the most emotional.

The Lost Lords of Pembrook trilogy is turning out to be exactly what you would expect from Lorraine Heath, so you know every word will have an impact.

Grade: A

Summary:

Three young heirs, imprisoned by an unscrupulous uncle, escaped—to the sea, to the streets, to faraway battle—awaiting the day when they would return to reclaim their birthright. Once upon a time, he was Lord Tristan Easton—now he is Crimson Jack, a notorious privateer beholden to none, whose only mistress is the sea. But all that will change when exquisite Lady Anne Hayworth hires his protection on a trip into danger and seduction. . . Desperation brought Anne to the bronzed, blue-eyed buccaneer. But after the Captain demands a kiss as his payment, desire will keep her at his side. She has never known temptation like this—but to protect her heart, she knows she must leave him behind. Yet Tristan cannot easily forget the beauty—and when they meet again in a London ballroom, he vows he won’t lose her a second time, as fiery passion reignited takes them into uncharted waters that could lead the second lost lord home. . .

No excerpt available.

Other books in this series:

Lord of Wicked Intentions – May 2012