Eden Emery did what she must to keep her younger sister safe, and her mother oblivious. Her secret shame was that her body found enjoyment in her ruination, at least at first. When the controlling man who had married her mother deepened his games into degradation and pain, she endured, for the sake of her family. Now that the old Duke is dead, what must she do to keep the new duke in ignorance?

Major Stuart Hartford has sworn himself to virtue, to never follow the sordid path taken by his father. With the death of his uncle, the Duke, he is in the market for a wife to help care for his new property. First, he needs to tie up a few loose ends, namely the family his uncle left behind. Something about the eldest daughter, Eden, is causing his war-honed instincts to flare a warning. Yet he can't seem to fight his attraction to her.

In TEMPTING EDEN, Margaret Rowe has presented us with a fairly common theme in historical romance, orphaned ward plus handsome young guardian equal romance and happily ever after, yet a few pages in it is clear her twist on the story is unique. As she leads Eden through a morass of self-loathing into true joy in her sexuality and Stuart through a discovery of Eden's secrets as well as a few of his own, you find yourself deeply engaged in the story. Peripheral characters have vital importance as well, particularly Eden's younger sister. A solid and well-crafted read.