Too Tempting to Resist: Number 2 in series (Lords of Midnight, #2)

by Cara Elliott

The Marquess of Haddan, Gryffin Owain Dwight (Gryff to his friends) has grown tired of his life as a rakehell rogue and he's ready to turn over a more serious leaf but fearing that any serious endeavors from a man reputed to be a devil-may-care soldier would be laughed at, he keeps his essays on landscape design a secret. When invited to a country house party by a group of indolent young rakes who look up to him, he accepts only because the estate is famous for its magnificent grounds. Never does he suspect that a chance encounter in the garden will change his life forever.

A widow at just 24, Eliza, Lady Lampson, has already rescued her impoverished noble family by marrying for money once. Now that she's free, she has no interest in remarrying and wants only to pursue her passion for gardening and botanical paintings on her family's ancestral estate. She is wary of her brother's rakish friends and goes out of her way to avoid any contact when they are visiting from London but when she meets the infamous marquess in the gardens, she instantly senses their powerful mutual attraction and though she tries to fight it, she and Gryff embark on an illicit affair.

Unfortunately for Eliza, her irresponsible brother is incurring staggering new debts and begging her to rescue him financially by wedding a rich friend - a debauched nobleman who has plans to force Eliza into using her art to help him with his criminal activities. Meanwhile she and Gryff continue to meet and find that their physical passion is matched by a joining of their creative talents - a publisher is producing a fancy book of Gryff's essays and he's chosen Eliza to do the botanical illustrations. Eliza hopes that the money she earns will free her from her family's selfish demandsbut an ultimatum from her brother and his friend makes her future seem increasingly grim ... until Gryff decides to fight unscrupulous rivals and his own inner demons, hoping for the seed of a new life to take root between him and Eliza.

• ISBN10: 0446584568
• ISBN13: 9780446584562
• Publish Date: 7 June 2012 (first published 1 January 2012)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 5 March 2021
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Forever
• Format: Paperback (A-Format (178x111 mm))
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[EBookObsessed]

Loved it!

Gryffin Owain Dwight, the Marquees of Haddan, also known through certain circles as one of the notorious Hellhounds. Gryff has worked hard over the years to earn his reputation of gambling and debauchery. He would rather not let those of his acquaintance know that he is publishing a book on the language of flowers. He has kept his interest in botany and landscaping private. All he needs now is to find a talented illustrator of his book so that they can begin printing his novel.

Lady Eliza Brentford is trying her best to keep her brother from gambling away the family fortune. She has survived one unfortunate marriage for the good the family, and she refuses to be sold to another future husband to refill her brother’s pockets. She has a plan to escape from her brother’s household and buy herself a little cottage in the Lake County. She just needs a little more time. As her brother refuses to stop his outrageous lifestyle, Eliza realizes she must use her painting talents to earn the monies necessary to make her dreams a reality.

A chance encounter with Gryff during a house party begins an affair which brings Eliza more joy and pleasure than she has known before. She wants to let go of convention and enjoy her Hellhound before she needs to face reality and leave before her brother starts making plans which will destroy her future.

Once again Cara Elliott creates a remarkable heroine who defies the standard convention of her time. Eliza is passionate and talented and self-assured enough to try and take control of her own future. It is quite enjoyable to watch Gryff seduce the young widow and in turn be seduced by her passions for life.

The antagonist in this story is Lord Brighton who is so creepy and sleazy that I want to take a shower after spending time with him in the story, and you just want to punch out Eliza’s brother for trying to force his sister to marry this vile man just to save his own hide.

This was another great novel from Cara Elliott and I am so enjoying her presentation of historical heroines who are above and beyond the usual boring ladies. Where Pride and Prejudice gave us Lizzy Bennet who was lively and defiant for her time, Cara Elliott takes her heroines just a little bit further. Lizzy Bennet wanted to marry someone who would take her for her small dowry. Cara Elliott’s heroines take control of their own future and defy convention of the time to try to earn their own income to take care of themselves.

I am looking forward to meeting the woman who will take down the last Hellhound, Cameron, in the last book of the trilogy.

See out interview with Cara Elliott at http://ebookobsessed.com.