TEMPTED AT EVERY TURN

Author: Robyn DeHart ISBN: 0061127531 8/2007 HISTORICAL Publisher: AVON
Time Period: Victorian 1893

Meet the Ladies Amateur Sleuth Society: Four unconventional ladies with a most unladylike interest in crime-solving—but clueless when it comes to the needs of their own hearts. Proper, sensible Willow Mabson will do anything to protect her family. So when she finds out that James Sterling—a dashing, arrogant aristocrat working for Scotland Yard—suspects her mother in a recent murder, Willow will do whatever’s necessary… even solve the case herself! Of course, this will bring her into a most uncomfortable proximity with the very tantalizing Mister Sterling. And try as she might, she finds resisting him her most difficult challenge. James has always preferred gritty crime scenes to elegant balls. And he can immediately deduce that straight-laced, whip-smart—and exceedingly delectable—Willow isn’t your average vapid, shallow socialite. He longs to help release her carefully restrained sensuality and tempt her into losing control. But James doesn't count on losing his own heart in the process.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Robyn DeHart is back with the third installment of her Amateur Sleuth Society series, TEMPTED AT EVERY TURN. This is the first book I've read by Robyn DeHart and I'm really happy to say that I found it to be a very enjoyable read. Even though it is part of series, TEMPTED AT EVERY TURN completely stands alone. I will admit, though, that after reading this book, I really want to go back and read the other two books, DELICIOUSLY WICKED and A STUDY IN SCANDAL.

TEMPTED AT EVERY TURN is a tender love story involving two polar opposites. Willow Mabson is as uptight and rule abiding as they come. James Sterling is a Scotland Yard detective who lives by bending and breaking the rules as he sees fit. When Willow and James finally meet face-to-face, fireworks go off between them, and I don't mean of the sexual type, either. It is a whole lot of fun seeing these two people spar and banter and eventually find love with each other.

James is a great hero! He's tough on the outside and very caring and protective on the inside. Watching him realize his feelings for Willow was one of the reasons why I couldn't put this book down.

Willow is a rather interesting heroine herself. Her family life is sad and she feels responsible to take care of her ailing mother instead of finding her own happiness. James is literally her Knight in Shining Armor.

There's more to TEMPTED AT EVERY TURN than the wonderfully romantic love story between James and Willow. There's a murder to be solved, and Willow and her friends are still trying to capture the notorious Jack of Hearts. Here is where it would be helpful to read the previous two books, but that's just my opinion. I have to say that I'm really looking forward to reading Charlotte's story.

I enjoyed Robyn DeHart's TEMPTED AT EVERY TURN. It's an easy read that has all the qualities that a good romance should have. It even has a place on my keeper shelf, right next to my other Avon authors' books.

Julie Kornhausl