The Price of Temptation
Author: Lecia Cornwall
Publisher: HarperCollins/Avon
Pub. Date: December 27, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0062018946
Digital Price: $4.99
Print Price: $7.99
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Once wed to England’s most notorious turncoat . . .Lady Evelyn Renshaw can ignore the disgrace her former husband has brought down upon her. She can even disregard the accusations. But when her life is threatened because of his actions, she realizes a stiff upper lip won’t be enough to keep her safe. So she hires a new footman powerful enough to protect her . . . only to find herself shamelessly intoxicated by his breathtaking masculinity.
Captain Sinjon Rutherford is no footman . . . but there are those who believe him a traitor. The only way to prove his innocence is by playing the part of elegant Lady Evelyn’s servant in order to infiltrate her home and uncover the truth about her suspicious relations. Yet what seems at first an easy deception is anything but, once he meets his alluring new employer and discovers just how tempting a woman in charge can be . . .
Because sometimes passion hides in plain sight.
~*~*~
REVIEW
A hero and heroine both on the wrong side of the law…
Sinjon Rutherford is a fugitive of the Crown; charged with treason and murder. He only wants a shot at redemption by capturing the man truly responsible for the crimes. The Earl of Westlake offers him a chance to prove his innocence if he works as a footman in the home of the notorious traitor Lord Phillip Renshaw. Renshaw is missing, but his wife, Evelyn remains and it’s presumed she knows where her husband is hiding, and where he’s stashed the one item that could turn the war against Napeleon.
There’s no love lost between Evelyn and her husband, yet everyone thinks she knows where he is. In truth she just wants the spies to stop following her, her sisters to stop encouraging her to take a lover, and her name to disappear from the scandal sheets. The only one worth her time is her new footman, Sam, who seems to understand her loneliness and pain. When Evelyn’s life is threatened Sam comes to her rescue, and pretty soon she’s wondering how horrible it would be to engage Sam’s services beyond a simple escort.
Going into this book the words ‘traitor’s wife’ had me already disliking Evelyn. I really wondered if I was going to get behind a heroine that might possibly be in on betraying England. Let me say that I firmly stand by never judging a book by its cover; in this case even more so. Evelyn is not all she seems, and I quickly fell in love with this heroine. She’s the example of a good woman who has been horribly wronged and public opinion damns her instead of learning the truth, except for Sinjon.
Sinjon relates to Evelyn’s plight because of his own circumstances. He knows what it’s like to be whispered about and considered an enemy. The similarities between the two situations end there, but just that one common link begins to form a bond between the two. Cornwall does a remarkable job of giving readers something new and fresh. Yes, Sinjon is technically a nobleman, but his role as a footman is supposed to make him off limits. Evelyn should be, as she’s technically married. Unfortunately for the pair, they just can’t seem to avoid the turbulent emotions they feel when in close proximity.
The novel’s setting takes readers from London to the French countryside, with plenty of action and intrigue. Ultimately Cornwall threw me off guard, and I couldn’t stop reading until I knew what would become of these two. If you’re looking for a book that surprises and entices—this one is an excellent pick.
Rating: 4 (Very Good)
Heat-Level: 4 (Hot)
Reviewed by Landra
Comment and enter to win a copy of your own!!
This sounds like an intriguing plot. Thanks for the review.
Sounds like a good read~! I love when stories include a woman who’s got the hots for someone she thinks is beneath her and turns out is not! Hot!
This sounds interesting. The fact that both main characters are wrongly accused of horrible misdeeds and relate in that way make for an interesting twist. And who can resist the angst of a woman falling for a man she isn’t supposed to have, a footman nonetheless? Definite tbr addition. 🙂
wow !! this sounds like a good book !! 🙂
sounds like a must read! and when it comes to that gorgeous dress on the cover, consider me vvvvveeeerrrryyy envious
Sounds like this book combines romance with action and intrigue and bit of the forbidden. I like it! Thanks for the review.
Sounds great. I love the cover to this book. 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway.
I WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK! LOL
Landra, thanks for the nice review! I’ve been debating on buying this book, though the words as you mentioned ‘Wife/Traitor’ did turn my eyes away. It’s not my type of story, Actually, I now have a different prespective about this book, thanks to your review. It’s alway nice to have someone give their ‘honest’ opinion about a book. Straighten out the wrinkles, says my dad, always. 😀 To be quite honest, those small prefaces do not intrigue me enough to buy. Thanks again! 🙂
Thanks for great review and opportunity to win!
That is such a beuatiful cover!: )
and the book sounds great! Thank for recommending!:)
Great review this book sounds so good!!!
Thanks for the opportunity to win.
This sounds like a great read!!
Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.
Sounds like something that I have to get my hands on.
This story truly sounds interestIng. I think Leigh successfully creates story in which she can put many elements that still exist today. I say elements because the fact that people still blame each other and criticize others still exist today. Thank you for this beautiful review.
I like the sound of this book!
THE PRICE OF TEMPTATION by Lecia Cornwall sounds delicious. Add 2 innocent people who are both thought to be traitors but are not, mix them up with the heroine being the boss, and you have a yummy love story.
Sounds intriguing. I also enjoyed her previous book.
This sounds like a very exciting story, moreso than I was expecting before I read the review. I am thoroughly intrigued.
This looks like a Great Read! Count me in!!!!!
I’m going to head to Amazon and get a sample for my Kindle. Sounds intriguing.
I’m waiting for my pre-ordered copy to arrive — and now I’m even more excited to read it!
Great review!
(No need to enter me in the giveaway.)
thanks for the review. while this was “on my radar” the review helped to pique my interest in it even more as it sounds like one I’ll enjoy too.
Thanks for the review! I have never read this author before, but after reading your review I can’t wait to read THE PRICE OF TEMPTATION. Love hearing about new books to try.
I havent read anything from this author yet but the review seems very interesting. Would love to win one…thanks for the giveaways!!!
Great review. I’ve had this on my list for awhile now. Can’t wait to read it.
Sounds like an intriguing plot and I hope to get to read more.
I will definitely put this on my list of books I want to read.
Great review! Sounds like something I would love to read.
What a really great reviw Landra! The plot sounds really good and interesting. And what a gorgeous cover!
I love books with a good dose of intrigue and plot twists that keep me guessing. Characters that have been misunderstood or falsely accused always make for good heroines and heros. Having two in one story is a bonus. This one is definitely going on my Wish List.
Thanks for the review, Landra. Have a great 2012.
another good book 😉
great review make me so excited
thank you 😉
THE PRICE OF TEMPTATION looks like a great read. I’m looking forward to this thank you.
I followed Lecia in her blog book tour recently celebrating the release of this book. The more I read about her and her work, the more I know she is going on my books-to-buy list!
Great review but some reason the storyline just doesn’t draw me in or makes me want to read like other books does
I haven’t read anything by Lecia Cornwall, but this book does have my attention.
Your review left me wanting to know how Sinjon and Evelyn’s story will bring them to their HEA.
Thank you for the give-away.
Isn’t that such a striking cover! I like the two settings since I enjoy variety. After reading your review, it sounds like something I would really enjoy.
Loved her debut book, so this is already on my wishlist. Pretty cover.
This book sounds amazing!
Debut book on list of top Historicals for 2011,..four stars for this one …it must be good.
That sounds exciting – I love a bit of adventure & intrigue.
Interesting, I was hoping that she wasn’t behind her husbands deceipt. But I also wouldn’t like to see her cheating on her husband with Sam (no matter how dispicable the hubby is, split then have fun). Guess I will just have to read to see what happens! Nice review of this book, I now want to read it when before I had skipped over it.
Sounds interesting… been looking for a good book.tto read…
Thanks for the review. I haven’t read this author before, but sure would love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you for a great review that has me left me wanting to read the whole story. I love a book that contains passion, intrigue, danger and romance. This sounds like a winner for me.
This looks really good and I’m a huge historical romance fan! Always looking for a good new author ~ 😉
Sounds like something I would enjoy, romance and intrigue. Always on the lookout for something by a new author.
This sounds like a good read. Thanks so much for the giveaway.