TEST
For a novel that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, Tempting the Wolf was generally enjoyable. I included time travel as the type of romance because the back cover blurb mentions it, but truly it has no impact on the story whatsoever and any traveling through time has long since happened. This is what makes it an ill-used plot point and contributes to the not making sense I mentioned.
Sir Nairn O’Banyon is an Irish warrior born in the Middle Ages and living in Regency London due to some kind of curse from a witch…I think. He loves women in all their forms and is generally a well-liked love ’em and leave ’em kind of guy. That is until he meets Antoinette, Countess of Colline. O’Banyon first saw Antoinette in a dangerous part of London and then again at a ball. He is inexorably drawn to this mysterious woman who always wears white, right down to her gloves, and is strangely reluctant to touch hands.
Antoinette keeps people at a distance so that she can protect herself and her secrets. The persistence of O’Banyon, however attractive and desirable she finds him, stresses her out. Wherever she goes, whatever she does, there he is. Though his stalkerish behavior (and it is stalkerish) worries her, Antoinette can’t help falling for him and when her secrets are endangered O’Banyon helps her.
There are a whole host of reasons why I should grade this one lower then I am. O’Banyon’s time traveling and Antoinette’s backstory and secrets are poorly explained and basically dropped by book’s end. The couple spends very little time together. A villain comes out of nowhere and yet is pretty evident from early in the book. The historical detail is wallpaper at its thinnest. O’Banyon’s accent seems to bounce around between Irish and Scottish and just about any other Celticish you could name and it appears and disappears at will. His name is Sir O’Banyon or Sir Banyon at various times in the book. Am I making the point here that you shouldn’t read this one? Well strangely enough, that’s exactly the opposite of what I’d suggest.
Despite all the flaws, and they are legion, this was actually a fun, fast read. O’Banyon is a womanizer but not a tortured rake. He unabashedly loves women but it’s very clear that once he’s met Antoinette, the chasing is done (though there is one almost scene). I enjoyed how much of the book was from his point of view. He realizes he’s been pole-axed by something and he actually spends some time thinking about just what he does feel for the mysterious lady in white.
Though I didn’t warm to Antoinette in quite the same way, I was intrigued by her story. Of the two, she’s the dark, brooding one, and it’s clear that she probably has good reason. Though she is wary of O’Banyon, their verbal duels are generally snarky rather than shrill and forced. Her fears are very real, though they are part of the plot that fell apart. She genuinely thinks being with someone will prove dangerous, and I believed that.
As for the rest…nonsensical plotting, paranormal elements that are completely unnecessary and lack any real foundation, wallpaper history, well I admit, it’s all here. And yet I laughed a few times and I smiled a few more. So take from this review what you will.
Grade: C
Book Type: Time Travel Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 19/08/06
Publication Date: 2006
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.