Tempting Juliana

by Lauren Royal

Book Overview

It's a good thing Juliana Chase takes such pleasure in playing matchmaker, because there's nothing she wants more than to see her loved ones happy. Her latest pairing involves Dr. James Trevor, Earl of Stafford, and her friend, Amanda. So why does the handsome physician insist on ignoring her good intentions-and shaking up her sensible plans?

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451218248
• ISBN13: 9780451218247
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Beautiful regency romance

Lady Juliana is a sweet-natured "fixer." She likes to help people and she does it with generosity and energy. Juliana is the girl no one hates because she is a sweetheart with flaws. She doesn't obsess over herself. Rather, she tries to improve. The story begins as Juliana visits an orphanage in London and promises to contribute a large amount for clothing articles for babies within a month. Juliana decides to make the baby-clothes herself and enlists the help of her female relatives and friends. At the same time she is determined to marry a certain duke. All seems to be going right except that the duke is not really the sort of man Juliana desires. It is James, the good and handsome doctor that stirs her pulse. Of course Juliana doesn't see this straight away. She needs encouragement, which James is eager to provide. James begins as a non-dashing hero. I didn't fall in love with him on the spot. He is a good guy, not the super-macho, devil-may-care handsome rogue. But surprise, surprise--this is exactly what made me fall in love with his character even more as the story unfolded. Because - although rogues do have their charm - the James character is the kind of man a girl just knows will be good for her. And he's not bad looking either. James didn't have to work hard at impressing me. As soon as I got over my usual tendencies to like bad-guys, James won my heart--and Juliana's. TEMPTING JULIANA is one of the best regency romances I have ever read! The characters were absolutely wonderful! The story rocked. It was really interesting with surprising twists that were not over the top, and the desserts were a wonderful addition! Laurel Royal is a fresh, witty, very talented writer and is becoming one of my favorite. Her stories seem to flow with no effort, everything falling into place (even when you think all is lost) without contrived plot-twists. An exceptionally good romance book - don't miss out! (Later post) Don't miss out on the second books in the series! They are just as great: The Art of Temptation (Signet Eclipse) Lost in Temptation (Signet Eclipse)

It was great... but then it got a little silly...

Lady Juliana Chase is a known matchmaker in her family. She helps everybody find somebody, while she herself tries to find a blond, attractive, tall man for herself... Enter James Trevor, Earl of Stafford, wealthy widower, and physician for the unfortunate. He was the exact opposite of what she was looking for. Her goal in life: Make everyone happy!!! But her friend Lady Amanda needed someone to compromise her and quick. Amanda was engaged to a man twice her age, and she didn't want to enter into a marriage of contract. Therefore, Amanda and Juliana hatch a plan to get James to fall in love with Amanda and compromise her to save her from an unwanted marriage. Juliana begins to give James lessons on how to woo Lady Amanda and in the process, James begins to fall in love with Juliana. There were so many twists and turns in this book that towards the end, I began to skim to get to the ending. Juliana was just to meddlesome in some cases. Overall, I found the book charming, however it did take me longer to finish this book.

Fun and Witty Regency - 4-1/2*

Lady Juliana Chase, much to her brother Griffin's chagrin, seemed to have one goal in mind. That goal was to meddle into other people's lives rather than seeing to her own unmarried state. Due to several years of mourning, at the age of twenty-two this was Juliana's first season and her brother was dutifully looking over the crop of unattached males hoping to get Juliana married off. So far, none of his candidates were passing Juliana's inspection. James Trevor, the Earl of Stafford was an old school chum of Griffin's and having lost both wife and child two years prior was not looking to fall in love, but as a favor to Griffin would meet and dance with his sister Juliana. Big, dark and handsome Juliana was not impressed but thought James to be perfect to save her best friend Amanda from an unacceptable forced betrothal. While Juliana began her campaign to tutor James in courting Amanda, James would play along with the delightful meddler as he began his campaign to tempt her into falling into his arms. *** This was a lovely sweet and humorous regency tale with a delightful heroine, a most agreeable hero as well as being filled with a plethora of amusing and original secondary characters. It is sure to charm traditional Regency readers with all of the positively engaging characters from young Emily with her pet snake Herman, to Aunt Frances the spinster who finally finds love in the most unlikely candidate, and a number of equally admirable personalities gracing the pages. Lauren casts a charming story around two protagonists who couldn't be more perfect for one another if only Juliana could stop meddling into other peoples lives long enough to realize the prize she had right under her own nose. While short on suspense the more than adequate dialogs and the humorous machinations of Juliana's efforts to hook Amanda and James together while trying to keep the interest of a stuffy duke made for a vastly entertaining read. Lauren Royal has been a perennial favorite for years and continues to keep a loyal fan base with strong and worthy entries in this readers favorite loved Regency genre. Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization and Official Reviewer for CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

One of Lauren Royal's Finest.

I have been a fan of Lauren Royal for a while now, and every book just seems to be getting better. This whole series is really well thought out and written. Now I get to wait until the next book comes out!

Good book...

Our story begins in June, 1816, at the Foundling Hospital in London. At the age of twenty-two, Lady Juliana Chase is only now about to begin her first Season in London. She and her sister, Corinna, are late getting a Season due to all the recent deaths in the family. While touring the Foundling Hospital's art gallery with her sister and a little girl who lives next door, Emily, Juliana does what she does best ... meddles. Juliana has a big heart and always wants to help everybody and fix everything. So seeing all the babies Juliana decides she will sew all the baby clothes needed by the hospital for the month. Unable to sew well over a hundred baby items by herself, she must persuade others to help her accomplish this huge task. Juliana has also taken little Emily under her wing. Emily has a pet garden snake that she takes with her everywhere (and I do mean EVERYWHERE). Juliana wants the child to learn that reptiles over five feet in length as pets is not considered acceptable. Shortly thereafter Juliana learns that her good friend, Lady Amanda Wolverston, is due to marry Lord Malmsey, a man too old for her, within two weeks. It was arranged by her father and Amanda cannot get out of it. So Juliana begins meddling, of course. Juliana and Amanda want to have a younger man compromise Amanda. They choose James Trevor, the Earl of Stafford, who is ready to wed and begin his nursery. Juliana feels badly that Lord Malmsey would be losing a bride, so she simply HAS to match him up with someone else too. For herself, Juliana chooses David Harcourt, the Duke of Castleton. However, Juliana soon finds herself much more attracted to James than David. James is not only an earl, but also a physician dedicated to wiping Smallpox off the face of the earth. He runs New Hope Institute to tend to the poor and give the children free vaccinations. While Juliana is running around to get James and Amanda together, she learns James cannot seem to keep a receptionist. You guessed it, Juliana meddles. But now that her heart is on the line, Juliana is about to learn that there is such a thing as meddling too much. **** I could not help but feel that the character of Juliana was a little overdone on the meddling front. And I wanted to see more of little Emily than the author allowed. Otherwise, this story is fantastic, IMHO. To keep the story rolling smoothly, the author has a sub-plot romance between Juliana's brother, Griffin, the Marquess of Cainewood, and another young lady. I look forward to seeing that romance continue in the next sister's story (due for release in Fall 2007). **** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.