To Tempt a Saint

TO TEMPT A SAINT is a fast-paced, gripping story of the battle between good and evil, with good sadly making only a few inroads. The imagery is beautiful, the story absorbing, and Ms. Moore knows the Regency era and Regency London well. TO TEMPT A SAINT is Book One of a trilogy about the three brothers, Xander, Will, and Kit Jones, the illegitimate children of aristocrats. The book opens with Xander saving the life of the Prince Regent while someone kidnaps his youngest brother, Kit. Three years later, Xander, now the knight Sir Alexander Jones, along with Will, a Bow Street Runner, still search for the missing Kit. Xander is positive Kit is alive in St. Giles, the dark, dank, thieves' and murders' section of London. He seeks money to buy a gas works to light the gloomy evil of the area and find Kit. Destitute, twenty-four year old Cleo Spencer lives in poverty with her younger brother because she cannot access her money until she reaches thirty or marries. She proposes to Xander and he accepts in a devil's bargain to solve both their problems. Against the background of the increasingly desperate search for Kit, Cleo and Xander fall in love. Their quest uncovers the stench of the city's dark underbelly that reaches high to the kingdom's most powerful men, including Cleo's uncle, who aid and abet human misery for their own benefit. This book is one for my keeper shelf. I loved everything about it, but especially Xander. Xander is they type of hero I love--a decent man who has been kicked around by the world, and it's made him a better man. I look forward to Books Two and Three.

Most everything has been said on the story and characters so I will just say this: When I first picked this book up I was a bit leery because I hadn't read this author before and the book was $8. and only about 280 some pages long. 304 total after you add the intro, index, and peek of Will's story to come. I read a lot and if if's a really good book (and this one was) I can read it in 1 night no problem! What I hate...is having to wait another 8-9 months for book 2. =( I really like 'dark/light' references as someone already mentioned! Reminds you that no matter what and no matter where you go, there will always be both in the world! And with the teasers and glimpses of Kit, what's really important and comes across so well, is just when you think you can't go on or go any further, something happens, to give you that little nudge of hope that makes it all worthwhile. This was written wonderfully! I can't wait to read his story. But considering he's much younger than Will and Xander, it will be interesting to see how Ms. Moore handles that. She may have to push the timeline up a bit for Kit in order to age him and have him find his happy ending with someone but I sure hope she does that rather than *just* bring him home to go off to school or something. Now, just patiently waiting...NOT - *gRiN* for Book 2, Will's story! =) Happy Writing Ms. Moore! or Happy 'Fast' writing maybe? =D

What makes To Tempt a Saint so enjoyable? It's the good dialogue, the determined heroine, the brave hero, the well drawn secondary characters and the interesting story. Noblewoman Cleo Spencer is rich but has no access to her money which is held in trust by the bank and her greedy, unscrupulous uncle. She has repeatedly requested her money but is constantly turned down and Cleo is in desperate need of her funds. She and her younger brother barely make ends meet, her brother needs to attend school and worse yet; her uncle is threatening to take her brother from her care. While in the bank Cleo overhears Xander Jones propose to an heiress only to be turned down flat. Cleo is a resourceful woman and realizes she can get her hands on the trust fund if she marries. She suggests that she and Xander wed knowing he only does so for her money. Xander agrees to Cleo's proposal because he too is in need of quick funds. Xander is an honorable fellow, he was knighted for saving the king's life, he is gentlemanly and he is an illegitimate son of a noblewoman and a courtesan. Xander wants to invest thousands of pounds into gas powered streetlights in London's worst slums. His reasons for lighting up these dark streets are nobly minded and also heartbreaking. Xander is searching for his teenaged brother whom he lost in an angry mob three years earlier. Xander is action oriented and he is constantly searching for his younger brother. His other brother Will, a bow street runner, assists him in this endeavor although Will is almost fatalistic about finding their missing sibling. Xander is a master of keeping secrets from his wife but Cleo is undaunted and persistent. Her main concern though is the safety of her brother and I have to say I enjoyed the relationship between these siblings. Cleo's teenaged brother was protective of her but also open minded. There was no doubt that they were loyal to each other just like Xander and his brother. Xander and Cleo have an unconventional marriage. Xander keeps his distance emotionally and physically which frustrates Cleo. She wants her marriage to be real in every way and she is certain her dastardly uncle is looking for ways to undo her marriage and take control of her funds again. Cleo is a woman to be reckoned with and Xander learns this first hand. Cleo is both subtle and forceful when it comes to seducing her reluctant husband. I genuinely liked all the characters in this novel, each was well developed. I enjoyed the symbolic gestures in this novel of bright candles beckoning in windows and lighted streets in the rookeries of London. Often the poor are merely props in stories but Ms Moore recognizes their hard lot and gifted her hero with the noble intent to chase some of the darkness literally from their lives. The only drawback I have with this novel was it was almost too short. Perhaps forty or so more pages could have been devoted to the lead's romance. They spend much time apart as Xa

Able to attract the quality of the Ton as her lover, courtesan Sophie Rhys-Jones has three cherished "living sins" that affirm her skill. She loves all three of her offspring so is stunned when her youngest son Kit is abducted while staying with her middle child Sir Alexander "Xander" Jones. Xander and his older brother Will vow to bring Kit home to their mom even if they must enter London's darkest underbelly. In London wealthy Cleo Spencer needs a husband so she can get to her money controlled by her odious guardian; her uncle who has plans for her and her money. When she meets Xander, she thinks he would be perfect as her spouse as he desperately needs a wealthy wife and will allow her some liberties with her affluence. They strike a deal. As Xander continues to search the worst urban cesspools, brave Cleo follows his every footstep as she believes in him, which makes him want to work even harder at the rescue of his brother and her even when her uncle accuses them of a fake marriage. This is a terrific first Sons of Sins historical romance because of its dark look at the underbelly of London as Cleo and Xander collide in the slums of St. Giles; sort of moving Oliver Twist into the Regency Era. The story line is fast-paced and vivid, but owned by the lead couple as they team up to help one another; he with his amateur sleuthing and she with her need to elude her abhorrent uncle. Kate Moore provides a powerful opening act in a three part drama. Harriet Klausner