Too Great a Temptation

by Alexandra Benedict

Book Overview

A lord so sinful he is dubbed the "Duke of Rogues," Damian Westmore lives for pleasure--until the day his brother dies at the hands of pirates. Abandoning the libertine life to pursue revenge, Damian finds the criminals he seeks and joins their crew in disguise, waiting for the chance to strike the brigands down. But he never imagined there would be a woman on board--or that the stunning siren would inflame the very passions Damian swore to resist...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060847948
• ISBN13: 9780060847944
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

A Genuine Page-Turner!

Great plot with 2 very interesting and endearing main characters. And, to top it all off there are plentiful sensual love scenes. This book is a vast improvement from her previous book. Hope the next one's just as great as this one.

Fantastic historical romance

The message of his brother's death changed Damian Westmore's life, the "Duke of Rogues", from one moment to the other. He vows to find the pirates who killed him and nothing and no one will stop his quest for revenge. A twist of fate brings him contact with Mirabelle and her brothers and he joins their crew. What he doesn't know is that this crew is responsible for the attack on his brother's ship. The situation gets even more complicated when the sparks are flying between Mirabelle and Damian. The attraction between them is undeniable, but will they have a chance to be together? TOO GREAT A TEMPTATION is a really fantastic book. The book kept this reviewer captivated from the first moment on. The characters were really fascinating and unique. Damian is a tortured hero, who completely changed his life from the moment he heard of his brother's death. Mirabelle is a tough heroine who tries her best to proof her brothers that she is a worthy member of the crew. By the way, her brothers play an important part in the story and they are all very interesting characters and this reviewer really hopes that they will get their own stories. The book is so fascinating because you never knew what will happen next. There is more than just one surprise waiting on the reader. So get your own copy of this book and make place on your keeper shelf! TOO GREAT A TEMPTATION was this reviewer's first book by Ms. Benedict and definitely not the last, because she is the new addition to her auto-buy list. [...]

Fabulously Sensual Pirate Tale

Being raised without love; introduced to all manner of vices during adolescence; Damian Westmore lived life for pleasure and was dubbed "The Duke of Rogues". Caring only for his younger brother Adam, the shock of hearing of his death at the hands of pirates devastated Damian who took to the sea vowing to destroy the ones responsible. Rescued from imprisonment two years later Damian joined the crew of a ship sailing back to England never realizing that the `crew' were the pirates he'd spent the last two years seeking, or that it included a beautiful woman who would totally beguile him. Mirabelle Hawkins dreamed of becoming a pirate and sailing the seas with her brothers all her life. After stowing away on their last voyage she had one chance to prove her worth and hold her own. Unfortunately, the enigmatic new navigator Damian was a distraction that was wreaking havoc with both her hormones and resolve. Conversely, Damian was finding it equally hard to remain aloof when it came to keeping his mind and his hands off the stunning siren even with her four brothers on the same ship. In exacting his revenge against her brothers Damian knew there could be no future for such an ill-fated romance and in keeping his oath would lose the woman he desired above all others. *** TOO GREAT A TEMPTATION is a non-stop action, thoroughly exciting, and exhilarating read by a newer author whose vibrant stories are certain to make lovers of this pirate / regency era genre sit up and take notice. With a deft hand the author paints a deeply moving characterization of the horror of a childhood that shaped Damian's life giving remarkable insight as to his motivations for justice and retribution. Likewise, the same care and detail was given in character building as to what shaped Mirabelle's motivation in wanting the freedom of a pirate's life. The romance was hot and the descriptions of some passionate encounters were sensually stimulating and in my opinion very well done. A lighter touch was added with the antics of Mirabelle's four brothers that evoked some laugh out loud moments along with Mirabelle's good friend Henrietta, whom I would love to see have her very own story proving herself more than ready for a romance of her own. On the whole, I thought this an extremely well plotted story with a twist ending I was secretly hoping for, yet still managing to amaze me when it took off in a shocking direction I had not anticipated. Those looking for a well developed storyline from a vibrantly fresh new voice should definitely take a good look at this new talent! Marilyn Rondeau, for CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

superb Regency romance

The Ton thinks that wealthy Damian Westmore is a wastrel, labeling him "The Duke of Rogues". However though he enjoys females, he is on a mission of vengeance. Pirates killed his younger brother Adam at sea so he plans to even the score. For two years he learned what he could about sailing until by 1821 in New York he feels ready to act on his hard earned knowledge and find the culprit. Damian becomes the navigator of the Bonny Meg, a pirate vessel captained by the Hawkins brothers. Also on board is Mirabelle Hawkins, sister to the vessel's leaders. As Damian and Mirabelle fall in love to the dismay of both of them, he finds circumstantial evidence that his employers, his beloved's siblings, killed his brother. TOO GREAT A TEMPTATION is a superb Regency romance due a strong story line enhanced by a several fathoms deep cast and the predominantly oceanic setting (readers will feel the motions of the waves). The lead couple is a typical era star-crossed pairing, but the rowdy support crew especially her brothers bring out Damian's dilemma often in a comedic way. Sub-genre fans who have not discovered Alexandra Benedict (see A FORBIDDEN LOVE) are missing out on a top new talent; worth the sea cruise. Harriet Klausner