Lawson’s review of To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical romance released by Forever 1 May 08

I’m not ashamed of the fact that I read, loved and reviewed the three Prince books by Hoyt. She’s a talented writer with a gift for story and characterization. She had an interesting twist with how fairy tales were interwoven with the rest of the book. Starting a new series about soldiers from the French and Indian War has an interesting setting and time period, and I was anticipating this start to a new series from Hoyt. And what I found was. . .

. . . something that in ways was a repeat of what Hoyt has given before. Sure, there is good descriptions, tone, and characterization. There’s also fairy tales. Perhaps I’d hoped for some sort of different extra something to Hoyt’s new series, instead of going with another theme of using a fairy tale to help tell the story.

The soldier in the story is Samuel Hartley, a veteran of the 28th that was a hero in the French and Indian war. Some people say otherwise, however, but Sam doesn’t care for what people think. In fact he wears moccasins everywhere and doesn’t follow all the rules of polite society. He’s not in England for those sorts of things. He suspects his regiment was betrayed into a massacre and is searching for the traitor. Sam moves in next door to Lady Emeline Gordon, whose brother was killed at the massacre.

Emeline is a paid chaperone for untried ladies who need social polish to help them in social events. She is considered to be the epitome of English womanhood, always unassuming, quiet, stylish and nearly perfect. When Sam moves in, she’s not happy, though she enjoys the connection to the brother she lost. Her son takes to Sam quickly, but Emeline disapproves of his manners, his dress and his behavior. Sam tries to charm her, but she is always sniping at him. When Sam’s search for the traitor involves her fiancee, Lord Vale, things start to get complicated. But then the course of true love never did run smooth.

What Sam sees in Emeline is a mystery. Even what Vale could see in Emeline is not clearly seen. She’s judgmental, exacting, at times demeaning and narrow-minded. Though she does care for her brother in the need to know how he died, in every other way Emeline is not likable. Even at the end she’s thinking about her comfort, her needs and her social standing more than how much she loves Sam.

Sam seems to take Emeline in stride but it’s hard to see why he would even care for someone so selfish and unwavering in her belief in the benefits of London, society and the British way of life. What sparks are there between the two leads are fed more by the friction of their different personalities rather than any affection or perhaps caring on either side.

Lord Vale was a good character, a solid man who was dealing with his own issues but able to cope with Sam reappearing in his life. Sam’s sister Rebecca and her potential love story could make for a more interesting story than this one as she seems to be a more open, accepting and warm person than Emeline. Since this is the Legend of the Four Soldiers, are there to be four books in this series? If so, who would be the fourth?

Hoyt’s writing and characterizations are good as always, but Emeline was such a cold person it turned me off to other aspects of the story. Maybe I was spoiled by The Serpent Prince, but I’d hoped for a different tack than the fairy tales in the next series by Hoyt, and something else that matched the passion and emotion that Hoyt showed through Simon Iddelsleigh.

Grade: C

For a different view, read ShannonC’s review.

     Blurb: 

     The ton loves nothing more than a good scandal, and they’re giddy with the appearance of wealthy Samuel Hartley. Not only is he self-made, American, and in the habit of wearing moccasins, but he is also notorious for fleeing a battle in which several English gentlemen lost their lives. What the ton doesn’t know, though, is that Samuel is in Londonbecause of this massacre. He believes his regiment was given up to the enemy and won’t rest until he finds the traitor.

     Lady Emeline Gordon is captivated with Samuel. Not only does he defy convention with his unusual dress, his sensual smile, and his forthright manner, but he survived the battle that killed her beloved brother. Samuel suspects that the person responsible for her brother’s death is Jasper Renshaw, Viscount Vale, a family friend since childhood–and Emeline’s fiancé. Despite Emeline’s belief in Vale’s innocence and her refusal to break off her betrothal, she and Samuel begin a passionate affair. But can their relationship survive the fallout from Samuel’s investigation?

     Read an excerpt.