Stevie‘s review of Temptation Has Green Eyes (Emperors of London, Book 2) by Lynne Connolly
Historical Romance published by Kensington 03 Feb 15
When I read the first book in this series, I found myself longing for more details of the villains’ (yes, that’s multiple villains there) political machinations, and this instalment definitely delivers on that front. It also has a hero I can very much sympathise with.
Max is a Marquess who moves in the twin, often opposed, worlds of City and Country, having involved himself in Trade at an early age in order to recover the fortune his father lost while trying to build an impressive – though never completed – mansion on the family estate. At a meeting with one of his business partners at Lloyd’s coffee house, he finds himself drawn into a very different sort of deal to the one he was expecting to discuss. Max’s business partner has a daughter of marriageable age, who is plagued by fortune-hunters and recently found herself in a compromising position with a man her father had previously supported as a potential future son-in-law. So now Max has been picked as a new suitor and eventual heir to the businesses.
Sophia doesn’t want to marry, especially after the trauma of a man she liked trying to force himself on her – and then blaming Sophia for leading him on – and she certainly isn’t interested in marrying into a titled family. However, her father persuades her that Max is a good choice – and her only option if she is to avoid further humiliation following what happened with her former suitor – so they marry with great haste.
After a disastrous wedding night, the pair are very wary around each other, not helped by the fact that Sophia’s former suitor is now working for Max’s family’s arch-enemy – an unrepentant Jacobite – and others inside Max and Sophia’s household may not be trustworthy either.
I really enjoyed Sophia’s reaction to Max’s ill-fated family home – not to mention how he responds to her opinions on what he needs to do with it. I also feel for Sophia as she struggles to fit in with Max’s social equals – and for Max as he struggles to decide how best to deal with a house that needs so much work to be done to make it properly habitable.
The political sub-plot kept me guessing all the way through, and I can’t wait to see how its repercussions play out in subsequent books. There are a couple of points where I was cross with the characters for not spotting what I think are blatant clues to what is really going on, but also points where they work things out rather than go down the clichéd path of falling for an obvious ruse.
All in all another great instalment in this splendid series, and one that has me desperate to know when we’ll see more of the Emperors and their lovers and enemies.
Grade: B
Summary:
She holds the key to more than a fortune…
There’s more to love than meets the eye…
The daughter of a wealthy merchant, Sophia Russell has no interest in marriage, especially after a recent humiliation—and especially not to Maximilian, Marquess of Devereaux. But it’s the only way to save herself from fortune hunters—and those who wish to seize a powerful connection she prefers to keep secret—even from her future husband…
Marrying Sophia is the only way Max can regain the wealth his father squandered on an extravagant country palace. And while Max and his bride are civil, theirs is clearly a marriage of convenience—until a family enemy takes a questionable interest in Sophia—one that may lead all the way to the throne. Forced to become allies in a battle they hadn’t foreseen, the newlyweds soon grow closer—and discover a love, and a passion, they never expected…
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Other books in this series:
