Once Tempted

by Elizabeth Boyle

Book Overview

Innocence Lost A notorious rake, the Marquis of Bradstone stole young Olivia Sutton's heart . . . and then ruined her life. For seven years she has been forced to hide her past behind a false... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380815354
• Release Date: July 2001
• Publisher: Avon
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.8" x 1.0" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

A very adventurous Regency romance

"Once Tempted" is my first book by the author and in my opinion a very good one. The setting is Regency London and the Penninsula during the Napoleonic Wars.Miss Olivia Sutton is a young lady living under a false name since she was betrayed by her so-called lover, the Marquis of Bradstone. Bradstone sullied her name and reputation involving her in treason. Major Robert Danvers arrives in London on a mission. He is masquerading as his treasonous cousin and he intends to make his mission successful by finding and using Olivia. When they meet they are both shocked and surprised. Olivia is not a plain unsignificant girl Robert was led to believe and she shows lots of spirit and passion, which captivates Robert.Olivia fights very hard not to fall under the strong charm of the Marquis again but she is shocked and helplessly attracted to him especially when she finds out his true identity. They don't trust each other at all. Olivia wants to clear her sullied name and Robert wants to fullfil his mission.Their life is in danger and they have to leave London. During their journey to Spain they encounter many dangerous obstacles and they constantly fight for their lives. They start seeing each other in different lights and they can't resist the growing attraction between them. Their love is passionate, sensual and desperately heartaching. There is much danger, dishonesty, violence and bloodthirst around them and the way to victory and fullfilment of their love leads through the horrors of war.This is a very well-written historical romance set during the Napoleonic Wars. The author managed to combine enough love and action to make it a wonderful piece of work. All the characters are well developed and excitingly alive.ONCE TEMPTED is a brilliant historical romance with an action-packed storyline, a passionate love story and likeable characters from one of the most fascinating eras in history. I look forward to the other novels written by this talented author.

A Page Turner that you won't be able to put down

This book caught my attention from the first page and I sat up all night reading it. Olivia and Robert are well matched and the love story is passionate and heated. If you like your stories full of suprises and action, this is your book. I have only one question--when is the author going to write Colin's book???

An officer seeks the truth about his brother's death.

A naive, young Olivia was tricked by the man she loved into revealing secrets to enemies of the British and blamed for the death of a young Spaniard, who, before he died, gave her a ring and begged her to give it to someone named "Hobbe." She had no choice but to flee the scene, eventually finding a position as a companion under a false name, since her real one had been vilified in society as a murderess and a loose woman.Seven years later, the treacherous marquis that everyone thought dead is back, and Olivia returns for her revenge. But for some reason, she can't pull the trigger, and instead becomes HIS prisoner. It doesn't take her long to learn that he isn't the man who wronged her at all, but his look-alike cousin, an aide to Wellington himself, who has been ordered to masquerade as the marquis in order to flush out the murderess of the young Spaniard--his beloved brother--who also has the key to a centuries-old treasure that everyone wants desperately, especially the French.Although she starts out as a silly seventeen-year-old easily deceived by a false lover, Olivia has grown and matured into a strong, independent woman who can face danger calmly and courageously. Robert Danvers steels himself against her charm, believing her responsible for his brother's death. And Olivia discovers that this man's physical resemblance to his evil cousin masks an honorable soul, truly worthy of her devotion. But will he ever really trust her?This book is one of the better ones I've read recently. Oh, I got a little impatient at the length of time it took Robert to get over his suspicions of Olivia's character, and the treasure hunt was a little unbelievable, but these are minor detractions to the love story between these two courageous lovers. I also enjoyed the character of the all-knowing Mrs. Finch, who doesn't hesitate to give everyone advice on just about everything.So if you're looking for a typical swooning Regency heroine, look elsewhere. This one has more to worry about than being considered a bluestocking; she proves herself more than capable of dealing with whatever challenges come her way. And for his part, Robert turns out to be a truly worthy hero. Enjoy!

Fascinating regency

In a departure from the usual regency heroine, Elizabeth Boyle has given us an extremely intelligent and resourceful heroine who is involved in a plot to retrieve ancient treasure. Olivia Sutton has been in hiding for seven long years, disguised as a widow and companion to Lady Finch. Prior to her exile in the country, Olivia secretly met her beloved, the Marquis of Bradstone,in the library while attending a ball at the home of Lord Chambley. She was on the verge of revealing coded information to the Marquis, thereby disclosing the location of the King's Ransom, a long-ago buried treasure. But the injured man on the floor of the library was not Napolean's agent, as Bradstone professed. And when Bradstone attempted to take Olivia's life, he was thwarted by the injured Spaniard who lost his life in the process. The dying man handed his ring to Olivia along with the message to give it to Hobbe. Unfortunately for Olivia, Bradstone placed the pistol in her hand and fled. Over the years, Olivia has come to believe that Hobbe is her knight in shining armor and secretly hopes to someday meet him. But when the Marquis of Bradstone miraculously turns up alive and in London, Olivia travels there to meet him and exact her revenge. Olivia soon discovers that Bradstone has changed,and she realizes that he is not the same person. He is actually the cousin of the former Marquis of Bradstone, and he is on a mission. Robert Danvers wishes to find the woman responsible for his brother's death. In finding Olivia, he discovers a woman like no other, and the attraction is mutual. Will theirs be a love that can survive the deceptions and intrigue inherent to war and human greed? Elizabeth Boyle has written a thoroughly enjoyable regency with enough intrigue and suspense to keep the reader hooked. Ms. Boyle gives a thumbnail sketch of the trials and tribulations of those fighting in the Napoleanic Wars. The love scenes are both intense and poignant, a combination that is difficult to achieve. For a regency with depth and substance, ONCE TEMPTED can't be beat.

Exciting regency romance

In 1805 London, Lord Robert Bradstone seduces Olivia Sutton through words of love and kisses. However, it is not her body he wants; it is her brain. He coaxes her into deciphering a coded missive that claims a King's Ransom in a tomb in Madrid. However, a Spanish "spy" tries to intercede, but Robert shoots him and blames a shocked Olivia for the murder. The dying Spaniard gives Olivia a gold band and tells her to flee with the deciphered note. Seven years later, Robert returns from the seemingly dead of a sunken ship. Meanwhile Olivia needs him to clear her name and to accompany her to Wellington so she can deliver information he needs. Robert apparently wants to atone for his travesty and offers to escort Olivia. However, she has deep doubts about trusting the scoundrel who destroyed her life even if he appears to behave honorable now. She also wonders if he would betray his country. To her chagrin, her thirst for vengeance wars with her love for the rat. ! ONCE TEMPTED is an exciting Regency romantic suspense novel that stars a brilliant, intrepid heroine, whose naiveté is destroyed by the dashing aristocratic cad. The story line is fast-paced, filled with action, and loaded with shockers. Elizabeth Boyles' boiling tale will provide much enjoyment to sub-genre fans as the ingenious Olivia, though once burned, struggles to avoid that same flame.Harriet Klausner