Tempt Me Twice

Gabriel Kenyon returns from Africa seeking revenge on the man who killsed his partner. He also finds himself responsible for his parner's daughters. But he'd rather face the wilds of Africa than face Kate Talisford, a girl he's sworn to protect...a girl he longs to possess. As Kate and Gabriel search for her father's killer and a priceless statue, they find that maybe the true treasure is the bond that they're forging...a bond that could be love.Barbara Dawson Smith tells a fantastic historical story, full of intrigue, fun and of course, love.

This is a wonderful romantic adventure with a plot and pace that never let up as orphaned Kate plunges into a wild search involving an ancient Egyptian icon and a truly chilling group of Regency bad guys. Gabriel is the perfect hero--reluctant, sexy and ultimately redeemed by the love of a good woman. Barbara Dawson Smith is one of the most consistently excellent authors in the genre.

Kate had been sixteen at the time of her greatest humiliating action. She offered herself to Lord Gabriel "Gabe" Kenyon, who was sponsoring her father's (Professor Henry Talisford) trip into the deep wilds of Africa in search of a lost city. He refused her. Four years passed. Kate had only her younger sister, Meg, left in her immediate life. Meg was now sixteen, Kate was twenty. Their mother had died shortly after their father had left for Africa. Recently, Sir Charles Damson, who had seen their father in Cairo, reluctantly informed them of their father's death. The Professor had been set upon and killed by thieves. Sir Charles claimed the Professor had made him the guardian of Kate and Meg. Gabe took over a month to bring them the news, because he had been stabbed in the back by one of the thieves, who just happened to be one of Damson's minions! He, also, claimed the Professor had made him the guardian of Kate and Meg! Both men also wanted Kate to sell them the items her father had kept sending to her in packages. Kate refused both. Minor research led Kate to discover of a priceless ancient fertility goddess statue he had found. It had been stolen by the thieves that had later killed him. Kate wanted justice! Great-uncle Nathaniel Babcock agreed that Gabe take Kate and Meg to Stokeford Abbey in Devon so his mother, the dowager Lucy Stokeford, could care for them. Lucy and her two life-long friends gladly agreed. But these three special women were out to make a match between Kate and Gabe, while Kate and Gabe were out to prove Damson to be a thief and murderer. ***** Fans of Christina Dodd and Susan Wiggs will especially love this story. Like them, Barbara Dawson Smith writes romance with a lot of thrilling adventures and problems to keep it all very interesting! For a touch of humor, a chimpanzee is added that I could not help but fall in love with. Wonderful reading here! *****

In 1808 near Oxford, Lord Gabriel Kenyon and Professor Henry Talisford finish studying the map of Africa so the tired noble goes to bed. Lying in his bed is Henry's sixteen-year-old daughter Kate who claims she loves Gabe. He tells her she must leave his room immediately, but she refuses. He bluntly tells her that neither he nor her father has time for her as they are going on an expedition in search of a fabled lost city in Abyssinia. A distraught Kate withdraws from his room due to Gabe's most noble but heart-wrenching act. Four years later, thugs murder Henry stealing a golden statue. Gabe becomes the guardian of Kate and her sister, but the former hates him and now blames him for her father's death. Still, Kate needs Gabe's help to avenge her father's murder and regain the stolen statue. As the peril increases, that spark from four years ago ignites into a deep love, but will Kate trust her heart or the scars from her last encounter with Gabe? With Barbara Dawson Smith's deserved reputation for strong novels, Regency romantic suspense fans will not need a second temptation to read her latest tale, TEMPT ME TWICE. The story line is exciting, loaded with intrigue, and never slows down for a breather as the plot spins to a fabulous climax. The lead protagonists are a delightful pair and the support cast includes the return of characters from previous books as well as a cunning murderous villain. Ms. Smith goes to the best seller lists as usual.Harriet Klausner