The Temptress (Montgomery/Taggert)

This book was really good. It kept my interest and I couldn't stop until I'd read it all in one sitting. Christina Montgomery Mathison a.k.a. Nora Dallas, the world renowned reporter, is spirited away from the home of Hugh Lanier by two young men. One man is named Asher Prescott and one is Tynan, the most handsome man Chris has ever seen. This begins an adventure lasting several weeks. Some of the adventure takes place in the decidious rain forest of Washington state. The descriptions are beautiful. This is an exciting tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Any Deveraux fan will not be disappointed.

I say "surprisingly good" because I hadn't expected to enjoy this book after reading the bad reviews here. However, The Temptress turned out to be one fun romance full of adventure, humor and twists and turns. It is kind of different from the other Deveraux novels I have read, a somewhat cross between Twin of Ice and Temptation, but the author's signature romance, wit and twist ending are there. Christiana Montgomery-Mathison is a twenty-eight-year-old heiress making it on her own in late nineteenth century (the author doesn't mention the year, but my guess is it is set some time around the late 1880s to the mid 1890s). She is the famous, admired newspaper reporter pen-named Nola Dallas, who is known for her snooping around and risking her life for adventurous, risque exposes. But one day two men go and fetch her to bring her back to her disapproving father. One of the men is the one she feels her father wants her to marry -- a respectable man who isn't at all respectable because he is after her money. The other man is a maverick named Tynan (no last name), who was in prison for a crime he hadn't committed and who may receive a pardon if he looks after Chris throughout the journey home. He is also told by her father not to touch her if he wants his freedom back. But that may not be easy, for mutual attraction and sexual tension between them is inevitable. Will they manage to keep their hands off each other throughout the long journey home? There are many twists throughout the novel. This novel was sort of an acquired taste for me because I wasn't crazy about the first few chapters. I thought it was boring at first, but then the story picked up when Tynan, Asher and Chris began to travel around the Washington rain forests. And the story becomes riveting after Chris decides to help an accident victim during the journey. There are so many twists and turns that I soon couldn't put the book down. The story is fun and I love how Deveraux uses the Western genre here. Tynan is gorgeous, a gunslinger and a cowboy that is as sexy as he is infuriating. He is such a man-ho and at times I wanted to hit him with a frying pan. But he is also honorable. I like how, despite his denials about loving Chris, he does everything in his power to look after her and keep her safe. The author does this in a way that ensures the reader that he does these things for far more than mere duty. He does it because he loves Chris. And I love the scenes where he becomes jealous! His love for Chris is quite transparent in spite of his protestations to the contrary. I admit that his arrogance and womanizing ways infuriated me, but I still loved this man. He is the proverbial tortured hero with more than a few insecurities. Chris is a great heroine -- someone independent, intelligent and sure of herself. She decides to pursue the man she wants in spite of his halfhearted rejections. She is the proverbial Deveraux strong heroine and I liked her a lot. I al

I think this it the first one of Jude's books that I have read and I couldn't put it down.

I loved this book from start to finish! It was one of the best I have ever read of Jude's! I highly recommend it over all others!!!

I absolutely loved this book because it was exciting, adventurous, and I could not put it down. Christina, the main character, is always trying to investigate things and is always getting herself in trouble. Tynan, is the man who's never had a chance in life and has a bad name, but always comes to Christiana's rescue. I loved the independent braveness of Christina. I wish I could be more head-strong and independent like her. I would definately recommend this book to everyone. It is one of the best books I've ever read.