Olivia’s past is horrifying, but it doesn’t justify the things she does to all men, not just Julian, nor does Julian’s past justify how he’s lived his life for the last 20 years and his treatment of women in the meantime. The up and down of their actions to each other demonizes one, then the other, than back again and absurd tug of war. Both act badly on a number of occasions, though not at the same time. Olivia’s rules hide an abused and vulnerable woman, Julian’s actions hide a scared and lost young father who can’t cope with loss. The potential to be a great, heart-wrenching, emotional story is completely lost in everything else that is happening in this book. But can Julian give up some things that he’s gained in coming back to England from abroad to be with Olivia forever? Though he doesn’t like her rules, he gets past her defenses as well and discovers someone worth treasuring. Julian, though, has his own demons to fight and with Olivia he feels the first cracks in the armor around his heart in many, many years. Olivia knows what to do to keep a man lusting after her, but she is the one who has rules to follow and when Julian shows that he bows to no rules, Olivia does everything she can to push him away. A challenge comes for her last conquest in the form of Julian Southwood, Earl of Erith, a diplomat home for his daughter’s wedding. They’re all the same, and though she’s a courtesan and used to such things, she doesn’t find any interest anymore in coaxing jewelry out of men and finding young dandies worshiping the ground she walks on. Olivia Raines is bored with all the men of London lusting after her. What comes out by the end is a different sort of story from Campbell, and an unexpected ride. Another notorious woman, another nobleman and another battle of wills between to very strong people. Tempt the Devil is set in the same world as Claiming the Courtesan, but it’s not a sequel. One can always count on Anna Campbell to deliver an emotional story with a bit of a different view. Historical romance released by Avon 30 Dec 08
Lawson’s review of Tempt the Devil by Anna Campbell
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