Temptation's Darling by Johanna LindseyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
It's been a while since I've picked up one of Johanna Lindsey's books, and I had forgotten how much fun they can be. "Temptation's Darling" was no exception. I found it to be an enjoyable romp featuring humorous situations and endearing characters.
The heroine, Lady Vanessa Blackburn, was not like other young ladies typical of the Regency period. She preferred wearing breeches to gowns, knew how to shoot a pistol, and wasn't afraid to say whatever was on her mind. Vanessa knew what she wanted and was determined to find a way to get it, no matter what her parents or anyone else thought. The hero, Lord Montgomery (Monty) Townsend, was also outspoken and had a tendency to do things his own way. He purposely cultivated a reputation as a rake, but turned out to be a mostly honorable man underneath it all. Vanessa and Monty were very well matched, and watching them fall in love was a pleasure.
The book's secondary characters were also a lot of fun, especially Vanessa's younger sisters and Charley, Monty's "ward." The one exception was Vanessa's mother, Lady Kathleen, whom I found to be somewhat off-putting at times. She claimed to have a deep love for her family and wanted what was best for her daughters, but yet was willing to sacrifice Vanessa in a loveless marriage with an older man from a family who hated her own, and who didn't seem to be very kind. While I can understand Kathleen's (and Vanessa's) desire to bring Lord William home from his exile in Scotland, I didn't appreciate that she was so willing to sacrifice Vanessa's happiness in order to do so.
I also thought that the book's ending felt a little rushed, and that the situation with Vanessa's father was perhaps resolved a little too easily. That said, the book was overall a quick, enjoyable read, and it wasn't difficult for me to overlook these minor annoyances.
*ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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