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Lost In Temptation – Lauren Royal
The Sweet Temptations Trilogy
Book One
Signet,
July 2005
ISBN-13: 978-0451215925
ISBN-10: 0451215923
Reviewed by Laurel
July 2005
Lady Alexandra Chase is best known for being a traditional lady. She follows society rules and dictates and does her best to not cause a scandal or bring unwanted attention to herself. She loves to bake and believes baking is the magic to snare a man’s heart. She is hoping that Lord Shelton will propose after he tastes her prized Ratafia Puffs. But when her childhood love, Tristan Nesbitt returns from abroad, after seven years away, and now titled Lord Hawkridge she is anything but the traditional woman. Suddenly she is throwing caution to wind and tosses aside her brothers choice of husband, setting her cap for her hearts desire.
Tristan Nesbitt has returned from a few years aboard and it’s been awhile since he has seen his childhood love Alexandra. He always knew that she was going to grow up into a beautiful woman and it pains him that he must act indifferent and spurn her advances and hopes for marriage. When he knew Alexandra he was just Tristan, now he is Lord Hawkridge with a murderous scandal on how he became the current Lord. Tristan would love nothing better than to marry Alexandra but fears any alliance he enters into would ruin the most noble of people.
The chemistry between Alexandra and Tristan is instant, all those secret feelings they harboured for each other are quickly discovered and very mutual. After a kiss goes further than anticipated, Alexandra believes they are to be married. She is shocked and stunned when her brother Griffin informs her he is not a suitable match. Seeing his point and Tristan’s they vow to go their separate ways and get over each other. But Tristans suffers from sleepwalking and his inner consciousness wants Alexandra. While he is sleeping he sneaks away into Alexandra’s room where they are discovered the next morning entwined in each other’s arms. Facing ruin, Alexandra and Tristan marry, both each vowing to protect the other from Society. For Tristan it’s making sure Alexandra is not shunned, for Alexandra it’s proving to society that her beloved Tristan is no murderer.
Lauren Royal tells a delightful and delicious tale set in Regency Times about unrequited love. The character of Alexandra was refreshing, inquisitive and determined. She may have appeared traditional to her sisters and brother, but when Tristan appeared so did her sensual and seductive side. I enjoyed reading her transformation from proper to maybe a little bit naughty. Alexandra loved to bake and scattered through out this novel are recipes from Regency Times where Alexandra is making them in the novel setting up for some humorous and funny scenes for late night kitchen raids. Tristan was a lovable hero who was only trying to do the right thing, even if misguided in his thinking. Alexandra’s brother Griffin was protective if not understanding of his sister’s drive to be with the one she loves. They had a very humorous conversation about the birds and bee’s that had me chuckling later on through the novel when it was mentioned again.
LOST IN TEMPTATION is a read that will capture you from the first page with its mouth-watering recipes, ideal setting and wonderfully written and charming characters. This is the first novel in “The Sweet Temptations” trilogy and my first novel by Lauren Royal; I look forward to reading more about the Chase Sisters.
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