Tempt the Devil

by Anna Campbell

Book Overview

Any man in London would worship her. Yet Olivia is, quite frankly, bored of them all. Despite her many dalliances, she's never felt true passion, never longed for any lover's touch . . . until Julian,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061234931
• ISBN13: 9780061234934
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Emotionally Charged and Sexy Hot--Magnificent!!!!

This story took my breath away and captivated me from the very first. I am a sucker for emotionally tortured heroes and heroines, and this story had those elements, albeit safely tucked away and peeled away ever so carefully with magnificently timed revelations. If you want angst and an emotionally charged read, none of which is gratuitous, this is the book for you. Now, as far as the sex goes, this author knows how to prolong the sexual tension and to heighten the sexual acts to a fevered pitch, every time. You will not be disappointed in this area either, if you like it hot. You will find some of Lord Erith's and Olivia's behavior disturbing, but it all goes along with their characters. They are flawed human beings, with their own emotional baggage to deal with. When you put too such tortured people together, there is bound to be some really bad mistakes made, some poor, even unconscionable behavior for which to atone. I found this book to be exceptional and totally gratifying. There is not one thing I would change--not one. [I purposely left out the synopsis as well as a detailed narrative of Lord Erith's and Olivia's characters. Many reviewers have done that for you. I've only set out to tell you how the book affected me and why. The rest, I leave to you, but I will be buying her other books.]

Romance for the jades among us...

I'm a long-time romance novel reader discovering Anna Campbell. This is a classic "Hooker with a Heart of Gold story." Not the usual setup where a virgin heroine meets older jaded rake and reforms him. The heroine of this story is Olivia Raines; she's 31, a renowned self-possessed beauty w/a steely heart who's been a courtesan her whole life. (Of course she's got a terribly sad sob story about how she ended up a courtesan). The hero is your classic rich arrogant earl but wow, he's not afraid of love. The relationship between these two feels very real, very adult. You never doubt that it's only about sex; and from the very beginning they are so suited to each other. There's not alot of plot in this book besides the development of their relationship; it's completely character driven. So don't expect there to be an antagonist or the usual conspiracy/revenge plot. This book is all lust and love. Definitely recommended if you're in the mood for something sexy, sweet, and a little real. Read it back to back during an airport layover and it was perfect.

This book has heart!

First of all, I don't read a lot of historicals, especially Regency historicals. But this book grabbed me and didn't let go. I read it in one night. This book hit all my emotional hot buttons; no cheating, more than a little obsession on the part of the hero, more than token resistance on the part of the woman, and a truly great grovel by the man near the end. The way these two dance around each other is very well done. Olivia has a very tragic background, and when Erith "call me Julian" starts to dig under the surface, the story gets riveting. He doesn't give up, he doesn't quit, and I really loved the way she kept running away and he kept finding her. Romantic in the extreme, to me. The best part is that the tension is real, the differences deep. Olivia has a very good reason for guarding her heart, and much as I wanted the big happy ending, I kind of wanted her to keep running, too. The author showed so well the reason WHY behind her feelings that I got it completely. And so when Julian tries to convince her of his love, he had to convince me, too. The book ended very abruptly, and I could have used a few more pages after the resolution. But overall it was engrossing and well-written, passionate and heart-breaking. Anna Campbell's best, for sure.

Sensual, heart-wrenching historical romance

The most sought after courtesan in London is looking for a new lover. The Earl of Erith is determined to be that man. From the moment they meet, Julian and Olivia are drawn together in a way they've never experienced before. Even so, they are both intent on their arrangement being strictly temporary, only lasting the duration of his short visit to London. They soon learn that even the best laid plans have a way of going astray... Once Julian and Olivia come together, they discover a depth of feeling for each other that is irrepressible, even if unwelcome. Between Olivia's secrets and Julian's adherence to societal expectations, however, their love may be doomed before it even has a fair chance. With every new release, Anna Campbell raises the bar a little more. Her latest novel, TEMPT THE DEVIL just might be my favorite yet, although I would be hard pressed to pick one story over all her others. Is this one my favorite simply because it is the most recent I've read or does it really have something a little more than the others? Whatever the case, I can honestly say I am addicted to Anna Campbell's work. I don't even have to read a synopsis of her stories to know I will be buying them - she's that good. TEMPT THE DEVIL is another historical romance, and once again Ms. Campbell explores the life of a courtesan in Regency England. She explores the making of a courtesan as she delves into the past of renowned courtesan Olivia Raines and the events that made her the person she is Julian meets her. The woman has endured unimaginable pain, and has managed to persevere through it, even blossoming - at least in the public eye. Julian, however, begins to uncover her truth in just one night... Julian is far too canny for any woman's peace of mind. As a diplomat, he must be able to read people easily, and when he applies this talent to his lover, the effects are devastating. For someone with the kind of secrets Olivia hides, that can prove quite distressing. But Julian knows just how to break through to the woman beneath the courtesan's glamour and embarks on a methodical seduction that wins readers as surely as it does Olivia. This book flat-out did it for me. Everything worked - the plot, the emotions, the characters - Julian especially. The man makes a few mistakes along the way, but he more than makes up for them before the story closes. In her previous books, Anna Campbell became known for doing the unexpected, and this book is no different. Olivia harbors many secrets, but one in particular has the potential to unseat her as the most celebrated courtesan in the city. TEMPT THE DEVIL is a sensuous whirlwind of emotion set amidst the spectacle of Regency England. Lovers of historical romance will be enticed by the theme, and the story itself will undoubtedly earn Anna Campbell a host of new fans while delighting her old fans. **Courtesy of Wild on Books**