To Taste Temptation

To Taste Temptation is the first of four brand new books by Elizabeth Hoyt in her new series The Legend of the Four Soldiers. Each soldier was returning from war. When they got to a four way crossroads, each one decided to go their own way. This is Iron Heart's story. Samuel Hartley and his sister, Rebecca has recently arrived in London, where they will be staying for a few months. Their next door neighbor is Lady Emeline Gordon. When Emeline first meets Samuel, she is appalled by him. What type of man attends a ball wearing moccasins? Right away from first sight, Samuel knows he would like to get to know Emeline better. Rebecca needs a chaperone to teach her how to act like a proper lady. Samuel enlists the help of Lady Emeline. Emeline is starting to see that underneath Samuel's appearance is a wounded man. Can Emeline help heal Samuel's heart? Also how does Samuel's mission to seek out a traitor how into play with Emeline's brother? I actually started out this series a little backwards by reading To Seduce a Sinner, the second book in this series first. Luckily for me, you do not have to read these books in order to enjoy them. As far as historical romance authors go, Elizabeth Hoyt is one of the best. Every book I have read by her, I have liked. Don't be fooled by Emeline. Just because she teaches young ladies how to act proper does not mean that, she won't stand up for herself. Samuel may dress the part of a gentleman but when it comes to the bedroom, you can't take the wild out of the man. Now is the perfect time to start this series before the next two books release.

Samuel Hartley was raised in a cabin in North America's colonial wilderness. After inheriting his uncle's business in Boston, Sam became quite wealthy and found his way to London both on business and in search of the person who betrayed the 28th Regiment causing a bloody massacre at Spinner's Falls. Of the men killed one was Captain Reynaud, the beloved brother of the very beautiful widowed Lady Emeline Gordon whom Samuel has engineered a meeting in order to obtain her help in preparing his sister Rabecca to enter London society, and to gain him entrée to continue his investigations. No matter how wealthy Samuel is, Emeline who is a model of propriety is aghast at his rough exterior and refusal to conform to a more gentlemanly mode of dress. How dare he wear moccasins to a ball! Yet, underneath it all Emeline is more than a bit attracted to Sam's manliness no matter how beneath her in station or impossible a liaison would be, sparks ignite each time they meet. *** A friend alerted me some time ago to Ms. Hoyt as a new historical romance author I would enjoy and I'm sorry to say it took me this long to finally get around to sampling her prose. Well, all I can say now is that after reading TO TASTE TEMPTATION I will be more than likely to move her from the bottom of my TBR stacks to the top! Lady Emeline and Samuel Hartley were extremely well developed leads whom you could quickly embrace. Emeline was a bit hard to like at first and I really didn't warm up to her readily until I found her interaction with her 8 year old son Daniel so very charming and unusual (for a woman of that era - 1764) and began to understand her fears and what held her back from surrendering to her love of Samuel, especially when she seemed so attuned and sympathetic towards Sam's torments. Ms. Hoyt's plot was interesting I especially enjoyed the bond of friendship that Samuel and Lord Vale (Lady Emeline's fiancé and one of Samuel's first suspects) formed even as Samuel was falling in love with Emeline. The other secondary characters, also cleverly woven in, were equally delightful especially, Tante Cristelle and Emeline's good friend Melisande whom I so hope is on this author's `To Do' list for a story of her own. At the beginning of each chapter were passages of the fairytales of four soldiers which evidently parallels the authors ideas in creating this series. These fairytales were a nice touch and an additional story to enjoy. All in all, this series promises much in the way of action and adventure and TO TASTE TEMPTATION is a zesty and very sensual treat bound to please the palates of fans of this genre. [.....]

This book was a rush. It is a very strong romance but has a lot more going on. There is the mystery of betrayl, there is violence, tragity, suspence, colorful characters and raw emotion. Every romance reader loves a good hard core romance. This reaches every readers hard core interest on every level. Can't wait to read the stories behindthe other three soldiers.

Elizabeth Hoyt kicks off her new The Legend of the Four Soldiers series with the truly wonderful To Taste Temptation. Mr. Samuel Hartley of the Colonies has just arrived in England and is requesting the assistance of Lady Emeline Gordon to help his younger sister make a good impression on English society. Or at least, that is the reason he is giving to Lady Emeline. In reality, Samuel has come to England to hunt out a traitor, the man whose betrayal led to the destruction of Samuel's regiment at Spinner's Falls. When Emeline initially resists helping Samuel's sister, he tells her he was a friend of Reynaud, her brother who was killed at Spinner's Falls. Emeline will honor the memory of her brother and help the Hartleys adjust to England. Of course, it is not that easy, especially when Samuel acts like a ruffian and Rebecca, though trying greatly to be a lady, is just not quite up to snuff as a member of the English elite. Emeline also senses that something fishy is going on with Samuel and when she finds out his true reasons for being in England, she determines to help him uncover the traitor. And that is where the already simmering attraction between them starts to burn out of control. Hats off to Ms. Hoyt for an enchanting, thoroughly captivating historical romance. Here is a woman who does not skimp on details and who, to the best of my knowledge, knows her Georgian England history. It proves to be the smallest details in this book that truly helps to flesh out the characters, the plots, and the motives. And of course, she does not skimp on the romance either. Samuel and Emeline have an electric, pulse pounding relationship from the first time they meet in a staid English drawing room to the more intimate encounters in the bedroom. It is hard for both of them to give up control, particularly for Emeline, who has put her trust and her heart in three men, each of whom have left her. Emeline is a strong, vibrant character who knows her way around the English aristocracy. She is definitely fascinated by Samuel's lack of graces and rather primitive appearance, but it is the man beneath the exterior who charms her soul, and scares her to her wits end. I loved reading the verbal sparring and the confessions of emotion that made up their relationship. Elizabeth Hoyt has a graceful, elegant, but also sexy way with words and it shows on every page of To Taste Temptation. If you read and enjoyed Ms. Hoyt's previous trilogy (The Leopard Prince, The Raven Prince, and The Serpent Prince) I have no doubt you are going to take pleasure in every word of this story. If you're new to this author, look no further for emotionally fulfilling and stunning historical romance. I know I'm being a tad effusive in my praise, but I truly feel like this will be one of the stand-out historical romances of 2008. You will surely feel as if you've stepped back in time as you embrace the magic that is To Taste Temptation.