Review: Lord of Temptation by Lorraine Heath

Title: Lord of Temptation
Series: The Lost Lords of Pembrook, #2
Author: Lorraine Heath
Published: September 25, 2012
Pages: 384
Genre: Historical Romance
Source: Publisher (Avon)
Rating: B
Reviewed by: Marq

Favorite quote: "For you Princess, I'd suffer any hardship."

summary from Goodreads
Once upon a time, he was Lord Tristan Easton--now he is Crimson Jack, a notorious privateer beholden to none, whose only mistress is the sea. But all that will change when exquisite Lady Anne Hayworth hires his protection on a trip into danger and seduction. . .

Desperation brought Anne to the bronzed, blue-eyed buccaneer. But after the Captain demands a kiss as his payment, desire will keep her at his side. She has never known temptation like this--but to protect her heart, she knows she must leave him behind. Yet Tristan cannot easily forget the beauty--and when they meet again in a London ballroom, he vows he won't lose her a second time, as fiery passion reignited takes them into uncharted waters that could lead the second lost lord home...

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Marq's thoughts:
After finishing Lord of Temptation, I've decided that I must go back and read book 1 in this series. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one.

Lady Anne enlists Captain Crimson Jack (Tristan Easton) to sail her to Scutaria so that she can see her fiancee. Jack is immediately intrigued by and attracted to Anne. Too bad she is engaged. But Jack is determined to have Lady Anne wanting him and forgetting about her fiancee. Anne has been in mourning and is finally ready to move on (her family tells her it's time for her to move on). When Anne first meets Jack, she's taken aback. He was described as a hero, an honorable man. But the heated looks that Jack sends her way are less than honorable and Anne finds herself responding to them.

Tristan and Anne had to overcome so much for their love. They wanted different things in life; Tristan wants a life at sea and Anne wants a stable life on land. I was happy to see the conflict throughout the book instead of it suddenly popping up towards the end and then having it be magically resolved. Even though it was frustrating because you wanted these two together, the secret rendezvous totally made up for it.

I am a sucker for nicknames and epilogues and Lord of Temptation had both. From the first moment they met, Tristan called Anne 'Princess" even though Anne is no delicate, dainty woman. She's strong-willed and fierce. She doesn't back down and she loves bourbon. The epilogue provided the perfect conclusion to Tristan and Anne's romance.

Lord of Temptation wasn't only about Tristan and Anne's journey but also the journey Tristan takes. Being separated from his brothers at a young age and being sold has had lasting emotional repercussions for Tristan. He hides those emotional scares well but eventually, the dam will break. Tristan's feelings finally rise to the surface and the pain of being separated from his brothers make its presence known.

Lord of Temptation was an enjoyable book and a series I recommend for fans of historical romance. This book was about more than romance. I loved the romance between Tristan and Anne but I loved the story about Tristan and his brothers just as much.  I'm definitely looking forward to reading Rafe's story.