The Lady Is Tempted

By Cathy Maxwell

Book Overview

USA Today bestselling author Cathy Maxwell delivers another passionate romance in which marriage is based on convenience not love, and only desire can get in the way.

There is no impulse more delicious than 'temptation' . . . or more troublesome.--Cathy Maxwell

Marry the local vicar--a stodgy man with six impossible children. Never Deborah Percival is determined to discover passion in a man's arms, not duty in a dull marriage. And when she becomes stranded at a countryside inn, tantalizing Anthony Aldercy, the Earl of Burnell, offers her the chance to fulfill her dreams. Deborah knows she should say no--but how can she resist?

The earl is determined to repair his reputation--and a marriage to a demure high-born lady of the ton will do this--but he cannot deny Deborah's charms. Her lush curves tease his senses, while her delicious honesty touches his heart. But when she disappears, he's desperate, so he searches all of London to find her, refusing to rest until he brings her into his life--and his arms--again.

Perhaps Deborah is not the only one being tempted...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380818337
• ISBN13: 9780380818334
• Release Date: July 2002
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

For Once, The Title is True To The Story!!!

I have read quite a few books by Cathy Maxwell this past year. She was a new author I found and I took a chance on some of her stories. I have read "Treasured Vows", "Falling in Love Again", "The Price of Indiscretion" (all three not bad - average), "You and No Other" (pretty good) and "Because of You" and now "The Lady is Tempted" (the last two being excellent!). I'm always excited when I stumble upon an author I like. I have read thousands of romance novels since the mid 80's when I was in high school and then stopped the last few years as I got bored. All the stories seemed the same. I was fortunate to find some great authors this past year and started reading again. A good story makes me dream, wish for more and even inspires me to be better. So...a good romance with interesting characters, detailed story lines and a smashing ending are more than just words in a book for me. They are inspiration. SO...after reading "The Lady is Tempted" I was smiling and pleased again at the experience. If you are a true historical romance reader and love a strong leading lady and a strong yet, kind leading man - this will be a great book for you. Our heroine Deborah is a gal we can all relate to and you will root her on! She begins the book as a widowed woman of 27 in a small, rural English village where everyone knows everything about you. Her family and the leading townsfolk have run Deborah's life for her and made her decisions (sad to say). Many women of this time held similar lives - woman were not open minded, strong and determined back then as they are in today's world. Many families dictated what would happen in a girl's life and poor Deb was no different. Deborah takes the leap to true womanhood and independence by leaving to go help her sister, brother-in-law and new baby in the city of London for a short while to get away. It is during this trip to town that Deborah becomes a new woman -the woman she was destined to be. How you ask? Why she simply takes shelter in a local cottage run by a woman named Marmy and as Deborah is taking off her hat and gloves to warm in the library near a fire, she comes face to face with her other half - Anthony Aldercy, the Earl of Burnell. The other half she didn't know existed, could only dream about and now she has to find courage within herself to take what she wants in life and not wait for crumbs to be left to her. The beauty of this book is that for once, our hero, Anthony, feels exactly the same. And he tells her this instead of playing games and being coy. He lived a similar life to Deborah's so, they have much in common. Two people doing the right things for everyone but, themselves. For a few shorts days as the storm rages on...the two find the strength to act on their impulses and please themselves which in turn pleases the other. Of course, once the storm ends, reality returns and they have to deal with what the world expects of them as well. You do wish Tony had the courage earlier in the bo

Great Book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I instantly connected with both Deborah and Tony -- both very likable characters who deserved each other. I especially enjoyed Maxwell's character development, in that she shared the thought processes of Deb and Tony as their relationship blossomed and evolved. Many times you read these historical fiction novels with the male lead as a rake, rogue, or hellion, who is a lothario with a legion of women in their past. I liked reading this historical novel showing that there were men during this time who valued relationships and wouldn't give up on someone they cared for. I recommend this book, and look forward to reading more of Cathy Maxwell's book!

For the true romance reader this one is a keeper

This book is great, I picked it up and rarely but it down for two and half days. I was cheering on deborah and tony from the moment they came in to contact with each other in the story. I was amazed at how real the charatcers felt, and how well the story fell into place; I was disappointed when I finished the book I wanted more. I have been reading historical romances for 15 years now, and Cathy Maxwell has reminded why I love them so much.

Too tempting to put down...

This book is by far the best book I have read in a very long time. From the instant the main characters met, I was hooked and felt the connection with them. Cathy Maxwell successfully draws you right into this story so you feel every bit of excitement, pain, happiness and distress that these characters feel. I loved the fact that this book was not about two people denying their attraction and feelings for eachother...instead, their relationship was intense, honest, open and very sexy. The storyline was so different from anything I've read before and kept moving so I was never bored. This is a very enjoyable book to read and I definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to escape into a unique story.I'm disappointed that I finished this book, and can only hope my next read is half as good!

A great book

I read this book in one day and I enjoyed it very much!