Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Elizabeth Hoyt 'To Taste Temptation'

Did I mention I've gone back to school part time. Ugh. Oh, it's fun, don't get me wrong, it's the "can I be here where there is no parking and can I be there where my children are waiting for me" that is stressing me out. Lots' more could be said about that but for now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

I have really enjoyed Ms. Hoyt's books so I came to this one with high expectations. That said, I liked it, but finally had to decide I didn't love it. I really enjoyed this hero, he's an American in England who recognizes the unlikeliness of a self made man marrying an aristocratic woman, but it doesn't stop him from wishing it were otherwise. I wasn't too fond of his insistence on the moccasins but that's okay.

It's the heroine that I liked less as the book went on. She's lost her brother and her husband and so she has understandable difficulty putting her trust and love into another man's hands but she's also just sort of, well, not nice. In some ways her termagant character is refreshing but I prefer to see some of that bite mellowed by the process of falling for each other (at least that's what I'm usually looking for in the hero).

Anyway, my complaints are not based on writing ability, silly plot constructs (although Sam could have been smarter about his investigations) or even consistent characterization, which is to say, this is a well crafted book and you should read it. Was it my favorite from this very good author? No, but that's just me.

Historical Romance 2008: 4 of 5 German Fairy tales.

7 comments:

Marg said...

I didn't mind Sam, but I totally agree with you on the heroine. Not my favourite Hoyt either. I am looking forward to her next book though.

Shannon said...

I am with you on this. I liked it better than many other historicals, but I did not like it better than the other Hoyt novels I have read.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on going back to school! Good luck with juggling classes and kids, but I know you'll do it with style. Speaking of which, I hope you treated yourself to a cool lunchbox. I recommend one with Zac Efron from High School Musical on it.

Thanks to you, I now know what "termagant" means.

While I can't comment on this book's content, I will say that the cover is pretty graphic for these Puritan eyes. I don't think they're tasting temptation; it looks more like consumation to me. Put some underwear on, for heaven's sake!

Heloise said...

Anne, you're the best. Funnily enough (is that really a word) my youngest regurgitated all over the car this morning. And you know, school won't take your kid for you when they are throwing up, even if you really have to go to class yourself. Just another quirk of our American School system.

The 'cover' is actually the 'stepback' page on this one. Meaning I liked the inside cover better than the real cover. Glad you agree!

Shannon said...

Trust me, after the school-wide puke fest we endured last year, there is a very good reason we don't let kids come to school after they throw up. Believe me, projectile vomit during standardized testing... fun times!

:)

Heloise said...

Too funny, Shannon. Well, to think about, definitely not funny to witness or smell!

Since I was at almost to school when my youngin' tossed her cookies, the school secretary shoved the 'Aborb' product and paper towels at me. Wow, the peppermint smelling kitty litter took me right back to my grade school days. Definitely helped me not to toss my own cookies due to smell, but the lingering fake peppermint in the car, not so pleasant. I believe a professional cleaning is in our future.

Stewart said...

If this book is any indication, I vote for posting the 'stepback' pages instead of the actual 'cover' from now on.