Temptress

The author has a way with words that keep you interested in the story. Plus she has knowledge and done research to make the story real.

A man is found, beaten to a bloody pulp, outside Morwenna's castle, and the only thing identifying him is a ring on his finger suggesting he might be Carrick of Wybren, who loved and left Morwenna for his sister-in-law, and reputedly set fire to Wybren, killing his entire family. While he's in the castle, unconscious, someone's creeping around hidden passageways spying on the inhabitants, and someone (else?) has started a grisly series of murders. There are a lot of twists and turns, and so many people who might be the killer. My only quibble was that the romance itself wasn't all that fleshed out, but the rest of the story was so good, I didn't really care.

I felt as if I were a part of the story. Jackson kept me into the book by just giving you the facts, not the answers; therefore it makes you want to read more to find the answers. She hit all targets for me; she makes you feel related to the characters male or female by giving you a great level of intimacy and suspense. If you like the medieval era, this is a wonderful adult book. I recommended it to everyone I knew. I wish Jackson would come out with a sequel. Also, a major plus is it is easy to put down (I didn't want to, but sometimes you have to), and pick up agian... EASY READING! For those of us whom are in a time crunch.

If you're looking for a suspense filled historical novel with more twists and turns then you can shake a stick at; as well as historically set against a backdrop of a medieval castle with secret corridors and peepholes; and for that edge of the seat feeling as a madman stalked his prey - then you must find yourself a copy of Jackson's latest historical thriller - TEMPTRESS. Two years after the Christmas eve fire at Wybren Castle, where the entire family of her faithless lover, Carrick had perished, Lady Morwenna of Calon dreamt once more of the faithless cur that had broken her heart. Perhaps it was an omen of what would soon unfold as the hunters of Castle Calon returned to the keep that day, not with fresh kill, but with a stranger more dead than alive - so brutally beaten and bruised that he was not expected to last the night. Against the counsel of the captain of her guards, and feeling he posed no threat, Morwenna chose to treat the unidentifiable and comatose stranger with care and compassion. When noticed that the stranger wore a ring with the Wybren crest, there was little doubt in anyone's mind that the stranger was none other than Carrick, the cowardly murderer that had purposely set the fire killing his family, then running off into the night. While Morwenna knew her duty lay in notifying the present Lord of Wyfren that she held the alledged murderer in her keep, she still had her doubts that he was indeed Carrick. It was one thing knowing Carrick for the cheat and liar rumored to have lain with his own brother's wife, and she had no qualms of hating him after he'd taken her innocence, left her with child and never returned. Yet, she still couldn't quite believe him evil enough to cold-bloodedly murder his family. Most importantly, why was she so drawn to the stranger - how could she still have feelings for a man who had so betrayed her? As, the true murderer stalked the secret passageways of the castle, with more bodies turning up gruesomely slain, it would be a race against time as he plotted to strike again with Morwenna as his ultimate prize. --- This was a fabulous read showcasing Jackson's impressive trademark suspense and mystery writing skills. Coupling the suspense with a medieval flavor for lovers of historical romance gives them a double treat. Along with the well-written prose, vivid characterizations of a plethora of secondary characters, including so many red-herrings tossed into the fray will keep the reader on the edge of their seat right up to the very end! While the author does a superb job of creating sultry and very hot sensual scenes, they seemed to come in secondary to the mystery and suspense aspects, which were fabulous. Fans of Lisa Jackson, be they suspense or historical romance lovers, are sure to enjoy this latest novel and I personally hope she continues this fascinating and engaging saga. (...)

In 1287 the Christmas Eve fire at Wybren Castle set by Carrick killed his family while he fled into the night. Two years later, Carrick's betrayed lover Lady Morwenna of Calon dreams of him or in her estimation she suffered a nightmare starring him. Not long afterward, hunters bring a near dead viciously battered stranger to Castle Calon. Morwenna decides to try to save the unconscious male until she notices the Wybren crest on his ring. Though she believes her "guest" is her cowardly former lover Carrick, Morwenna reluctantly cares for her patient and notifies the current Lord of Wybren who is her guest. She detests him for sleeping with her and deserting her to birth their child out of wedlock, but she refuses to think the womanizer would commit cold blooded murder. Morwenna can not accept how fickle she is because though he lies near death she wants him even after what he did to her. As he begins to recover, someone wants him dead and does not mind killing anyone in their way. The mysteries starting with who the nearly dead soldier is and the who-done-it make for a fine historical suspense thriller. The romance takes a back seat to the mystery though Morwenna's doubts about her feelings and about saving the reprobate's life bring the relationship between her and Carrick to the forefront of solving who the arsonist was as she knows her beloved is a rat but not a murdering rodent. The strong cast especially the lead couple leaves fans of Lisa Jackson with a terrific medieval one sitting thriller. Harriet Klausner