Sandy M’s review of Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss by Maya Banks
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin Desire 6 Mar 12
Every chance I get, I read Maya Banks. So I was happy to pick up her Harlequin Desire, Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss. While it doesn’t satisfy as much as Ms. Banks’ romantic suspense books, it’s still a fun and emotional read.
Ashley is one of those young, effervescent, happy people. She’s been sheltered, is still a virgin, and is in love with Devon, a business associate of her father’s. They’re engaged to be married, and life couldn’t be any better for her. What she doesn’t know is her father has basically pushed Devon into a corner concerning the merger of their two companies. Though Devon wants to tell Ashley the truth, her father insists secrecy is the way to go. He just wants his daughter taken of. So marry her or no merger. Not a very smart move, Dad.
Devon is also in that category early on. He doesn’t love Ashley. And he doesn’t have any problem telling her that, along with the things he doesn’t like about her, that she needs to change to fit into his world. Yes, you don’t like Devon very much at this point. But you have to realize – what he doesn’t realize yet – is that he does have feelings for her, and you see that in the way he makes love to her. Though he’s in change-Ashley mode, in private they do have chemistry, even if Devon doesn’t look at it that way. It took me some thinking after finishing the book to look at it like this, and, of course, his turnabout, as always happens with a hero, helps.
But before all of that, Ashley discovers she’s pregnant and also learns of her father’s and Devon’s deal. Devastated, she is determined to be the wife Devon wants. We lose the happy, young woman who we met at the beginning of this book. In personality, dress, attitude, everything about her changes, exactly what Devon wants. However, she can only do this for so long. Ashley knows she can’t be someone else for anyone. She’s happy with who she is, and if that isn’t enough for Devon, well, he doesn’t deserve her.
It’s when Ashley leaves him that Devon realizes he does love her. He actually misses all those things he’s told her wants to change about her. Her bubbly personality, her whimsical clothing, and her constant smile have been imprinted on his heart and he wants them in his life again. He also know he’ll have to win her back so they can start their family together. For some folks Devon might give too little too late, but sometimes that’s how it goes in romance. It’s the fact he knows what he’s done wrong and he wants to remedy that mistake, do what it takes to make it up to Ashley that counts in this instance.
I’m actually surprised I feel this way about the story. Usually a young character such as Ashley will rub me the wrong way. It’s an age thing. As the years go by I prefer older characters, but I know I’m not going to get them as often as I’d like. Ms. Banks saves the day for me in this case, her deft hand at creating likable and sympathetic characters is always a treat. So Ashley does work for me, especially when she tries to change as Devon wants, becoming the wife he think he needs. Those scenes are quite emotional when she’s at war with herself. Devon does have to grow on you for most of the book. It’s his insatiable desire for Ashley that keeps him in a good light, because I know he’ll realize what he’s lost in the end.
This is not my favorite Maya Banks book, but it’s one that makes you think, makes you take a second look because of life’s mistakes and how you own up to those errors. A nice read for a couple of hours one afternoon.
Grade: B
Summary:
Devon Carter was her first; now Ashley wants their passion to last. But her dreams of true love are crushed by the discovery that their marriage is another of Daddy’s business deals. Her strategy: act the part of perfect wife and make Devon love her.
But Devon misses the bubbly, no-holds-barred woman his wife used to be. Who is this Ashley with the steely demeanor of a society wife? And will he find a way to rekindle the fire in her eyes…especially now that she’s pregnant?
Read an excerpt.
