Temptation & Twilight rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Release Dates:
(Kindle edition) July 1, 2012
(Paperback edition) June 19, 2012
The Brethren Guardians series rating: N/A (haven't read them all)
Temptation & Twilight is the third and final book of the Brethren Guardians series and can be read as a stand alone novel.
How are the sex scenes?
88% of this book has no sex, but there are many crude references to it. The 12% is moderately descriptive.
How are the story lines?
Wonderful. Orpheus is about trying to murder the Brethren Guardians, Ian is seducing a married woman to obtain secrets for the Brethren and Elizabeth is being courted by another gentleman while Ian is trying to convince her to court him.
Would you read it again?
I plan to buy the series and read the first two, maybe not the last one again, though.
Summary
Caught in bed with a married woman, Ian is forced to duel her husband for sake of the Brethren. His dying-yet-not-mortally-wounded wish is to be taken to Elizabeth, or "Beth", as he calls her. If it takes the rest of his life, Ian will gain her love. If it takes Elizabeth's last ounce of strength, she will resist him.
Review
Temptation & Twilight by Charlotte Featherstone is a historical romance set in London and I enjoyed the story immensely.
Ian Sinclair is the typical historical hero - a devilishly handsome scoundrel, seducer of innocents and partial drunk who truly believes his soul is destined for the deepest pits of hell. The product of a dysfunctional family, his emotions are non-existent allowing him to feel no remorse or guilt for most sins he's committed.
Elizabeth Sinclair is the most unheard of, extraordinary heroine - considered the ton's angel, yet still unwed at twenty-nine and completely blind with a curvaceous figure. Let me repeat: completely blind with a curvaceous figure. And she's the heroine.
Temptation focuses on Ian's winding and bumpy road to redemption. He decides he has greatly wronged Elizabeth (and he did) twelve long years ago and vows to win her love and forgiveness. Elizabeth will have none of it, for she refuses to trust a man capable of what he did to her. She sticks to her decision too, avoiding Ian when she can and dismissing him when she can't. Ian is persistent, chasing her throughout most the novel and warding off her suitor for the rest of it. Elizabeth makes Ian work for her love but this doesn't come off as vengeful, because she's truly trying to not like him. She doesn't want to want him and everything she does reflects that beautifully. It's great to see a heroine who doesn't fall for a hero because he's pretty. This especially can't happen to Elizabeth because she can't see him.
Featherstone writes Elizabeth Sinclair as a intelligent, highly capable blind woman. Elizabeth has constant inner-dialogue about living blind, but since she doesn't let her handicap unnecessarily hinder her we, the readers, forget to feel pity. Temptation shows Elizabeth's daily life: living in a home where the furniture never moves, standing in front of a mirror wondering if she's pretty, knowing a person's motions by the sounds they make, etc. and, though I am not blind myself, it seems an excellent representation of a true blind person's life. And darn hard to write.
Ian and Elizabeth's "show down" was deeply satisfying, answering long-standing questions and revealing the extent of hurt Ian inflicted on Elizabeth. Props to Sinclair, because Elizabeth still resents Ian - as any normal woman would after what he put her through. (Don't worry, this is a romance novel so you can guess the ending.)
Wrapping the story up in a spectacularly impressive bow is Orpheus's big reveal and a character surprise you probably couldn't guess if someone paid you.
Temptation is a great story, incredibly written and entertaining with an unsuspecting heroine and, finally, a deserving rake-redeemed hero.
Comment About It
How long should a hero/heroine hold a grudge for a past wrong? Can any amount of time be too long?
Learn more about Charlotte Featherstone and her upcoming titles on her webpage and Facebook.
Read the Brethren Guardians series:
Seduction & Scandal (released June 21, 2011 in paperback / July 1, 2011 for kindle);
Pride & Passion (released November 15, 2011 in paperback / December 1, 2011 for kindle); and
Temptation & Twilight (released June 19, 2012 in paperback / July 1, 2012 for kindle).
Disclaimer: No compensation was received for this review. eARC courtesy of NetGalley.
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