A Novel with Thoughts and Ponderings

THE TEMPTATION

Author: Claudia Dain ISBN:0843952202 12/2003 HISTORICAL Publisher: LEISURE
Time Period: Medieval 1156

The TemptationHER BODY WAS A BATTLEFIELD

In England of 1156, a gently bred lady was taught to obey, first her father, next her bridegroom. But ever since Eve it has been in every woman to defy any lord. And Elsbeth of Sunnandune was determined to trade the submission of the marriage bed for the serenity of the convent.

Yet never did she suppose the difficulty of her task, for the husband given her was a golden knight of godly beauty and grace. His every word and look was a seduction, his every caress cause for capitulation. In this war of wills, she discovered, blood, honor, even the thrill of victory, could take on new meaning, and no matter how much time a wife spent on her knees in prayer, every path could lead into temptation.

More information can be found on Lucinda's website: http://www.claudiadain.com/

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I must admit I have a love/hate relationship with Claudia Dain's newest release, THE TEMPTATION. One minute I was loving every word I read as Ms. Dain's prose steadily drew me in. In the next, and on the down side, I was skipping pages and foregoing paragraphs in an effort to increase the tempo. Too much repetition and too much agonizing by the heroine of her situation and how to get out of it, along with too much plotting by the hero on how to win her over to see his point of view had me frustrated and feeling empty by the time I came to the epilogue.

On the other hand, I loved the way Ms. Dain filled this book with everyday aspects of the Medieval period. Through her skillful word-weaving she transports you back into time, not only by the way she presents the dialogue of the characters, but also by integrating the religious practices and devotions that we all know were such an integral part of everyday people's lives during that period. Rarely have I read of such a devoted pair of characters. I also loved how she pushed the envelope somewhat by developing the story and making a focal point of Elspeth's menses - I've never read a story where the brunt of the romance revolves so much on a bodily function; no mean feat and one that not many authors could pull off or even get away with. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there's no sex in this story, it's just that we have to wait quite a while to get it. In the meantime there's some pretty heady sexual tension between this pair, not to mention some pretty hot foreplay, that makes for some pretty warm and enjoyable reading.

With all due respect, I love Ms. Dain's ability to transport me back in time and place, but unfortunately this time the days in the story seemed like weeks and I was more anxious than the hero for the heroine's flow to slow and the story to come to its climax. However, for fans of Claudia Dain (and believe it or not I am one), THE TEMPTATION is still worth reading, regardless of the slow pace and occasional part skipping you may find yourself doing. Not one of her best works, in my opinion, but then I'm sure others may feel a bit differently.

Nancy Davis

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