Sweet Temptation

Like most Maya Banks readers of the "Sweet" series, I was anxious to read Micah's story. Yet when I read some of the other reviews I almost didn't buy the book. That would have been a huge mistake. I understand how some readers may have been put off by the more harsh aspects of bdsm in this book. BUT Micah and Angelina have reasons that they respond to pain, and multiple partners and in this context it was completely appropriate. Maya Banks brings these characters to full fledged life. I cried for both of them in this book, both for what they had been through, the pain that they were having to go through and I cried when they found their salvation in each other. This was the most challenging of all her "men" and to have given him the "easy" way out...let's have sex, let's get mad at each other, let's make up and live happily ever after would have done this character a great disservice. So don't be put off by other reader's reviews. You'll miss a very hot and poignant story!

What series have the other reviewers been reading? I will admit that I am sometimes at the other end of the spectrum from most reviewers but this was my favorite book of the series by far. I enjoyed it so much that I went back and re-read all of the earlier books and they are not filled with fairy tales and butterflies. They feature women who are willing to go beyond the boundaries of "normal" society and embrace their sexuality. If you think a little whipping and a foursome is bad, you should go back and read Sweet Persuasion. I had to skip the section where Micah is part of Damon's punishment of Serena because it was so uncomfortable the first time. This book was a natural progression of Micah's story and Angelina is a good match for him. The ending was suspenseful and I'm anxiously awaiting Cole's story.

I'm not going to rehash what everyone else has said, and summarize the plot. I am a diehard MB fan, because I have finally found in her an author who writes what I look for in romance. That being said you have to have an open mind about what constitutes romance, and understand that for some it's Julie Garwood and for others it's Lizabeth Dusseau. Sweet Temptation falls more to the intense end of the spectrum. If you thought Damon (Sweet Persuasion) was intense, Micah takes it to another level. He goes where Damon only hinted at and does so with gusto. For many Damon was a step too far outside romance, then I would say don't even bother with Micah. For me Damon was the beginning of everything I longed for in the alpha hero and Micah is full blown. Damon is still #1 for me, but Micah is also wow. You have to go in with an open mind, and read closely for the mentions of time passing that you can easily miss if you are a skimmer. These are key, especially when Micah and Angelina are at The House, because it could seem like they were only there for a couple days and then getting into the serious stuff. As with all MB novels, I wish she would go for about 400 pages to give us more on the characters, but I guess the publishers think the readers will only go for 350p or thereabouts. Since MB tends to revisit characters in subsequent books, I cannot wait to read the next one so we can see catch up with Micah and Angelina. On my keeper shelf! Excellent!

Micah lost his wife as well as his best friend in a tragic accident that left him unable to cope with the painful memories of his loss, so he moves to a different city and creates a new life for himself in hopes to be able to forget the agony of all that he has lost with their deaths. Each year he makes a pilgrimage to their graves, then secretly visits a club to submit to inflicted pain as a physical manifestation and release from his grief and anguish that he suppresses and hides in his replacement life. Angel is a determined, strong, and resilient woman who knows what she wants...and she wants Micah. She will stop at virtually nothing to prove to Micah that she is the one woman who understands him and can fulfill both of their needs. Running from a stalker she feels the timing is perfect to pursue Micah; to let him know how she feels about him and hopefully gain his love while hiding from the dangerous admirer who is pursuing her. I've loved the Sweet series, and Sweet Temptation is no exception. One of the things that I think Maya Banks does so well is create a world of friends that readers crave to know more about again and again. Readers of this series will not be disappointed as they get a glimpse into the lives of the characters they have grown to love. I think her dialogue between friends whether they be male or female is close to genius. When reading these passages it feels exactly like you could be there taking part in the fun. That being said, I had some serious doubts about Micah as a hero about half way through the book. I questioned whether I liked Micah because of how he treated and reacted to Angel...in more than one scene. But Micah is a very complex Alpha hero. He feels guilt, rage, desire, fear, lust....and finally love. Those are a lot of emotions to have to deal with and all of these emotions translate in their sexual encounters. At first, Angel feels that she needs to prove to Micah that she can handle all of his dark and demanding sexual needs. Their relationship is illustrated through many love scenes, some of which I initially thought were a bit excessive (even for an erotic romance), but the more I reflected on the story the more I realized that the sex scenes were a very carefully orchestrated series of escalating events that progressively intensified with Micah's growing need to prove and test not only himself, but also Angel. The more he pushes her, and the more it seemed like the sex scenes were deliberately unemotional on Micah's part, the more it showed his growing obsession and craving for her acceptance and love. He continuously tries to prove to himself that his feelings for Angel are nothing more than lust. Micah is an overwhelming alpha and Dominant hero. Angel continuously tries to demonstrate to Micah that she can take anything he can dish, and tries to reveal her love for him by being submissive and accepting of his wants, needs, and desires....including accepting that she may never h

Warning: contains some small spoilers "Sweet Temptation" by Maya Banks is an awesome book that combines great characters, a sweet love story and all kinds of hot and kinky sex. When Angelina comes back into Micah's life to spend it with him forever he couldn't be more shocked. The last time he saw her was shortly after his beloved wife Hannah and his best friend David (Angel's brother) died in a car accident. Back then he decided to leave Miami and to build a new life in Houston. So when he sees Angel again he's shocked because she is no longer just a girl but one sexy and sensual woman. But he doesn't want anything beyond friendship with her because for him she's still the little sister of his best friend. Saying no to sexy Angel might be hard but Micah still manages it (most times!). However when Angel and people close to Micah are attacked and threatened by a dangerous stalker who followed Angel all the way from Miami he can't stand back any longer. He offers her security and a short sexual relationship in which he will fulfill all her dreams. Angel has a sexuality to match his own so she loves all Micah gives her (pleasure through pain, sex with Micah and some of his friends, total submission to him) but she still hopes that soon he will return her love. Because without his love all the pleasure feels meaningless. In the end it's up to Micah to realize that it's time to move on from the past and take a new chance to love. I enjoyed reading "Sweet Temptation" by Maya Banks a lot. Like the other books in the series I couldn't lay it out of my hands until I finished it. To finally learn more about Micah and his past was awesome. Angel is just perfect for him even if it takes some time until he realizes it and is able to move on from his past with Hannah. Angel is a very strong yet vulnerable heroine who fits perfectly in the circle of Micah's friends. She is a very caring person and I love that although she is the submissive one in their relationship, she can also be strong for Micah and take care of him. The sex scenes between them are definitely over the top and some of the hottest things I have ever read. Even in my imagination I didn't expect the book to be so sexy and hot. How Angel was made welcome by Micah's friends was great, they gave her their friendship and support without asking and it was beautiful to see how Angel bloomed under their care. When reading "Sweet Temptation" I fell in love with Damon even more. He is a great friend for Micah, never judges him and is always the first to offer help when it is needed. Julie (I love her big mouth and heart) and Nathan are another highlight of the book. To read how their relationship changes and how Nathan manages to remove Julie's doubts is so sweet. Nathan also made me laugh out loud when he talks about guys being stupid in some situations and that is has to be genetic. Another character I loved is Cole. The more I learn of him the more I'm fascinated and want to know further