Don't Tempt Me

Novel - Don't Tempt Me
Author - Loretta Chase
ISBN-13: 9780061632662

I enjoyed Loretta Chase’s 'Don’t Tempt Me'. I found the novel to be both entertaining and witty. Delightful really.

But with all things positive, I tend to dwell on the negative...

So while I enjoyed reading this book, I don’t think that I care to read it again. Wanting to read a book again, and again, and again (which I do) is the hallmark of a good romance novel in my opinion. To the book’s credit, I was intrigued by the whole escaping the harem plot line, Zoe Octavia’s innuendos and her knowledge of the sexual arts. Nevertheless, all that sexual intimation did not translate to steaminess on the page. If I remember correctly there were approximately two scenes that where our heroine enchants the hero with her sexual prowess, but then the author “pans to the window” and we are left with…nothing but curtain.

And that's it - The main reason why I will not pick up this book again is that I expected more from a female character who lived a concubine for twelve years, a woman who understands the power of her own sexuality, and who has ensnared an equally sexual male. I expected there would be sparks in the bedroom. Instead I was left cold.


In other romance novels, at times it is too unbelievable that the staid Regency woman would be a “cat” in the bedroom, but Zoe Octavia is a harem-girl. It would have been very believable and appropriate to have a little more steam, and maybe even a little more vulgarity - not kinky or Erotica, just more titillation. Zoe’s character seemed open to it, but maybe the author was not. While the Ms. Chase delivered a sound book, I expected more form the sultry harem-girl and her bedroom exploration and actualization with her ducal husband. In the end, it is this reason alone why I would read the book again.

All in all, I recommend this to romance readers (at least once) – lovely story, characterization and engaging plot. Just do not expect the harem-girl to reveal anything about the bedroom you don’t already know.

Happy Reading,
FindingAlpha