Phaedra Blair's mother Artemis had raised her with the precepts of free love and equality between men and women, and she would accept no less from any man she would choose as 'friend'. On her father's deathbed, she promised to publish his memoirs, unchanged, but was shaken by what his work revealed of her mother, and the Pompeian cameo her mother had bequeathed her. Had Artemis Blair been betrayed by a lover? Had this bitter disappointment hastened her death? The search for the truth of her past leads to the archaeological digs at Pompei. In rural Italy Phaedra's familiar manner and unusual dress "..like a mourning whore who fears no man's hand." incites more trouble than she can handle alone.

Lord Elliot Rothwell appeared in time to save her from imprisonment, at the price of his guardianship through the rest of her journey. He was well pleased to accompany her, as it fell in well with his own quest. The memoirs in Phaedra's keeping tarnished the memory of his father, accusing him obliquely of hidden murder. Elliot is bent on seeing the memoirs edited or destroyed, at almost any cost. Phaedra has him in knots. Her response to his kiss could not be mistaken for anything else but raw desire. Indeed, she does not deny the possibility of them becoming lovers, but states "If so, it will not be a seduction, I will choose to let it happen before the first kiss or there will be no kiss at all." She is unlike any woman he has ever met, and his fascination for her grows almost beyond his need to protect his family's name.

Phaedra is mightily tempted by Elliot, but fights her increasing response with reminders of the precepts she holds dear. She thought herself familiar with sexual desire, but being near Elliot is teaching her new depths of intensity. She realizes she has never truly let anyone inside her heart before. What if remaining true to herself and to her mother's precepts means losing the love of her life?

LESSONS OF DESIRE was a terrific read. I enjoyed Phaedra's view of Victorian "silly society rules" and how she managed to successfully make her way through the attitudes surrounding her. Madeline Hunter had me laughing, and crying, and pleasantly surprised with unusual turns of the plot. The growth of Elliot's character from a man putting his family first to a person who loves a woman enough to consider other ways of life had me intrigued, then riveted. The love scenes were intense, passionate and steamy, yet rang true. Laughter and playfulness combined with steamy sensuality set this romance above the ordinary. After reading so many romances it isn't often that the ending truly surprises me, while still fulfilling all the promise a love story implies, but LESSONS OF DESIRE managed it, and well enough that it ended up on my keeper shelf.