My Fair Temptress

I'm not going to go through the plot, it's been done, but I can tell you that after too many mediocre historicals, MY FAIR TEMPTRESS hit the spot. It was smart, funny and sizzling, with a scene at the opera that made me want to hit a high note. Caroline sure did. I almost didn't buy the book because the back flap insinuated Caroline was easy, but that's not the case and I LOLed about the flirting scenes. Jude was hilarious as a dandy who's hiding his true self while he seeks revenge, and the affection between his father and step-mother is lovely, a real contrast to the fiery relationship between Caroline and Jude. Good book - buy it.

Slipping into a Christina Dodd book for me is always like putting on a favorite pair of shoes--comfortable yet also exciting! She's so good at telling a story that I always feel like I'm in the hands of a master. I especially liked this story. Society believes that the heroine Caroline appears to have no positive qualities except for her ability to "flirt" but you quickly learn that she's intelligent and warm-hearted and someone you would like to have as a best friend. And Jude is a very deserving hero, playing at being a meterosexual while actually seeking revenge on the men who killed his brother. These two make a perfect pair in a perfect story!

I never really read these myself but I wanted to say that this is a really hot book. I loved it! I can' really think of any other way to put it. You should buy this book if you like sexy romances.

I loved the premise - a governess whose sole skill is flirting is assigned to an inept lord so that he can learn enough to catch a wife. Jude is not as inept as he leads Caroline to believe and during their sessions they both learn a few things about how a man and a woman get to know each other. Of course, it's a Dodd book so it's full of romance goodies like ballrooms and grand emotions and great, steamy scenes including one that involves her stripping for him under knife point. Whew! This book is a savory banquet of a story with a great ending that involves a lot of groveling from Jude before Caroline forgives him for his deception and a wonderful cliff-hanger of an ending. A lot of fun!

Renowned as a flirt with no employment history, a desperate Lady Caroline Ritter suddenly needs a job with no prospects. However, the Distinguished Academy of Governesses hires her to teach foppish loser Jude Durant what a woman desires. Jude still works undercover for the Foreign Office after years on the continent playing the fool, but his current mission is to learn who is behind the assassination plan to kill the Queen. He keeps his persona going although he knows he needs no lessons on how to pleasure a lady. However, besides struggling to hide his real self, he finds he wants to be the teacher's pet as he is very attracted to Caroline, who surprises him with her intelligence, wit, and depth of character. Neither expected love to spring up between the tutor and the pupil, but first he must complete the mission while also keeping his beloved pawn safe. Though there is a degree of suspense in this superb Victorian romance, the tale clearly belongs to the lead couple as the teacher tries to train the student who knows he must continue his masquerade for the sake of Her Majesty, but needs to teach the art of lovemaking to his instructor. The story line is amusing as these two excellent characters battle over who teaches who as love makes both winners. Christine Dodd writes a fun tale that focuses on the gender war for supremacy in and out of the bedroom with an assassination plot to add a hint of danger to the participants. Harriet Klausner