To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt

To Taste Temptation (Legend of the Four Soldiers, #1)

by Elizabeth Hoyt

The ton loves nothing more than a good scandal, and they're giddy with the appearance of wealthy Samuel Hartley. Not only is he self-made, American, and in the habit of wearing moccasins, but he is also notorious for fleeing a battle in which several English gentlemen lost their lives. What the ton doesn't know, though, is that Samuel is in London because of this massacre. He believes his regiment was given up to the enemy and won't rest until he finds the traitor.

Lady Emeline Gordon is captivated with Samuel. Not only does he defy convention with his unusual dress, his sensual smile, and his forthright manner, but he survived the battle that killed her beloved brother. Samuel suspects that the person responsible for her brother's death is Jasper Renshaw, Viscount Vale, a family friend since childhood - and Emeline's fiance. Despite Emeline's belief in Vale's innocence and her refusal to break off her betrothal, she and Samuel begin a passionate affair. But can their relationship survive the fallout from Samuel's investigation?

Reviewed by mitabird on

2 of 5 stars

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2.5 stars

I liked the idea behind this book, but I don't think it was executed well. I really liked Sam; he was a well-rounded character and I thought the author did a great job letting the reader know his motivations and what made him tick. Emeline, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. There was nothing special about her. She was a typical society lady that cared too much about what others thought of her. I never felt the connection between her and Sam, though I thought the love scenes were steamy.

I didn't care for the plot either. It seemed to be a set-up for subsequent books, but it didn't seem to serve a real purpose to me. By the end of the novel, I didn't care who the traitor was nor did I feel that Emeline was deserving of Sam's time or affection. I'm uncertain if I'm going to read the next one in this series.

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  • Started reading
  • 2 June, 2011: Finished reading
  • 2 June, 2011: Reviewed