Too Dangerous to Desire

by Alexandra Benedict

Book Overview

His embrace will be her escape . . .

Lonely and overcome with grief after a painful loss in his past, Adam Westmore walks the ocean's edge in solitude.

Forced to marry a depraved prince, a desperate Evelyn Waye believes she has no choice but to throw herself from the jagged cliffs into the crashing surf below.

When Adam sees the enchanting woman in terrible danger, he rescues her from death and brings her back to his humble cottage...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 006117047X
• ISBN13: 9780061170478
• Release Date: July 2008
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 372 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.1" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Too Dangerous to Desire

Adam Westmore is a bitter man. A few years ago he was on top of the world - newly married, in love, nothing could hone in on his happiness. Forced to cut his honeymoon short to once again bail his older brother out of yet another mishap, Adam and his wife set sail for home. A mere days later Adam is a widower and he blames his brother and cuts all ties with his family. Living on the coast in a small cottage, Adam has to be close to the sea, if anything just because it is his beloved wife's grave. When he sees a strikingly beautiful woman hesitate before throwing herself off the cliff near him, Adam vows that the water will not take another life if he has anything to do with it. Evelyn Waye is being forced to marry an abusive prince. Running away and praying to remain hidden, she knows her only choice of escaping her fate is by jumping off the cliff along the coast by her home. Distressed beyond words to be caught and saved, Evelyn knows she can't trust any man, least of all one that makes her wish she was just a normal woman. Evelyn can't help but grasp at the comfort Adam provides. Is it too much to hope that her depraved and wicked fiancé will leave her in peace? From a personal standpoint, Too Dangerous to Desire, pushed every button I have concerning characters that try to inflict harm upon themselves. However, it was not enough to make me stop reading by any means. Adam was a changed man from the first scenes where he was so happy with his new wife. The man that saved Evelyn was not the man readers were introduced to; he was better. He was self-sufficient, he was mature, and he was loyal. I liked watching his character evolve and his feelings for his brother change, for the better, thank goodness. Too Dangerous to Desire by Alexandra Benedict was a captivating read. I found myself on the edge of my seat during the intense moments and blushing during the romantic ones. I will definitely read more of Ms. Benedict's work! Talia reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Grief and danger

When Adam Westmore's wife dies on a sinking ship his life is turned upside down. Stricken by grief he blames his roguish brother and after trying to kill his brother, retreats to a cottage by the sea to try to find atonement. Instead he one day finds a woman trying to commit suicide, rescues her and then starts a journey of discovery, finding his sense of duty and protection has not gone away. Evelyn Waye is trying to escape marriage to a murdering evil man the only way she knows how. However when rescued by Adam she bgins to trust his assurances of safety. But can Adam really keep Evie safe? Is there actually darkness and danger inside Adam that might cause her harm? Can Adam give up his vengeance against the pirates he has been chasing for years, and can he heal the rift with his family? This book was a reasonable read with a variety of situations and an interesting cast of characters, some of whom have clearly been in an earlier novel. At times there was something a little childlike about the writing style with scenes feeling quite short and moments of drama over fairly quickly. Adam's tortured nature was well written although Evie's character was a little harder to get into. Overall this was a reasonably successful read but had few real surprises. Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

Complex hero rates this a four star

On his honeymoon Adam and his wife are summoned back to England because Adam's wayward brother the duke is again in trouble. On their way to England, Adam loses his wife in a tragic ship wreck. Six years later finds him alone by the sea living in a cottage away from family and friends. His life changes dramatically when he saves a woman from drowning herself. Evie feels her only escape from her sadistic fiancé is death so she is startled to discover herself among the living after casting herself into the sea. She distrusts men, but very quickly, almost too quickly, trusts Adam to protect her. Adam sees Evie as a chance to redeem himself, he was unable to save his wife but he can save Evie. He teaches her self defense and also is winning her trust. Evie however is not safe and Adam needs his brother's assistance in keeping Evie from her fiancé. The most emotional part of this novel is not so much with Evie and Adam but with Adam and his brother. Their history is so fraught with anger, violence, guilt and love that emotions just spill out when they are together. Their interactions were more compelling because there was so much history between them. I never knew how Adam was going to respond when he was with his brother. Evie is a nice heroine but almost colorless when she is compared to Adam who has depth and history. This is really Adam's story even though she is the one in the most physical peril. Adam faces some physical as well as emotional challenges too, especially how to forgive himself for so many of his mistakes real and imagined. I have to say the ending was both wonderful and rushed. The leads come to their senses about their feeling for one another in some dire circumstances, it's very original but then the author never lets the reader fully appreciate their self discovery. This book rates 4 stars due almost totally to the hero Adam who is more complex and interesting than the heroine Evie.

exhilarating character driven historical romance

In 1819 as they come home from Italy at the request of his mom, while at sea on the Hercules, pirates led by Black Hawk steal Adam Westmore's wedding present watch from his wife Teresa. Not long afterward a storm hits the ship. Adam leaves Teresa in the cabin while he investigates the damage. He is knocked overboard while the ship turns into an inferno. His beloved Teresa is dead and he blames his wastrel brother the Duke of Rogues Damien for they were coming home due to his depravities. In 1825 Adam lives in an isolated home rejecting his family. He sees a woman jump off a cliff and rescues her. Evelyn awakens in fear as she trusts no man as all are selfish and cruel like her father who sold her sister Ella to pay gambling debts and like her brother in law who killed her sister Ella. Adam explains he lives by the sea to be near his late wife. Evie tells him her sister is dead, but that her dad sold her this time to "Him" as she fearfully in scorn calls her vicious brother-in-law, Prince Vadik. Adam vows to keep her safe from "Him". As they fall in love, he learns how complex meeting pledges truly are. The lead couple are interesting protagonists with both carrying baggage as they fall in love. Adding to the fun of this angst-laden Regency romance is the return of the stars of TOO GREAT A TEMPTATION in key support roles as the estranged brothers struggle to reconcile. The irony re Black Hawk is a great twist although the final confrontation seems a bit watered down after all that occurred. Fans will fully appreciate Alexandra Benedict's exhilarating character driven historical romance. Harriet Klausner