You know that moment when you rather wearily order a desert in a restaurant, knowing you are full and not expecting much of the crème brûlée, but when you take that first spoonful – oh my! It’s delicious, and at once you give up following the conversation of your companions and lose yourself in a decadent few minutes of sheer escapism. That’s the best analogy I can find for reading Pleasures of a Tempted Lady.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to read a copy of this book pre-publication, and from the synopsis I had expected to enjoy it given the era in which it is set, the passionate cover and the high seas adventures promised. But I hadn’t expected to be quite so gripped! Jennifer is a wonderful writer with such expert control of the narrative – drip-feeding information carefully, never telling the reader more than she needs to know, and the result is an intriguing read. In addition, there is so much action, so many twists and turns, that I was quite simply riveted.

This isn’t a book weighed down in over-poeticism and writing that reads as if the author were penning the novel in the time it is set, which can often be the case, I find, in historical romance – though that is not at all to say that the writing isn’t well-crafted because it absolutely is. The writing is direct and modern in feel (outside of the dialogue, of course), which means it is the plot and the characters that are the focus. And I loved these two elements of the book. The plot drew me in from the outset – such drama and heartache and longing. And the characters were especially gripping – I loved the Donavan sisters’ dynamic, and was delighted when it became clear that the novel was to cover not just one love story, but two. And sensual love stories at that – the love scenes were moving indeed.

Jennifer Haymore is an exciting new find for me, and I shall be sure to check out her other books. If you like historical romance, and page-turning books with strong characters and dramatic stories, then I very much recommend Pleasures of a Tempted Lady to you.

Pleasures of a Tempted Lady is available now from Amazon; click on the book cover below to visit the store.