Finding love is the last thing on the minds of Declan Reeves
and Paulette Hamilton. She is perfectly happy running her
family's successful bookshop. He is trying to rebuild his
life -- and help his daughter heal -- after a devastating
fire.
When Declan and Paulette meet in her bookstore, they are
both drawn to each other. When they might have resisted,
Paulette makes a connection with Declan's young daughter,
who hasn't spoken since the night her mother died. He
returns to the store again and again, to make Mara happy,
but also to see Paulette. When they finally give in to their
passions, they think they're hiding it from everyone, but
someone knows their secret and is willing to go to any
lengths to end their affair.
I enjoyed TO TEMPT AN IRISH ROGUE in part because we get a
glimpse into the running of a Victorian bookstore. Kaitlin
O'Riley did a splendid job of weaving Paulette's daily work
into the story without getting too bogged down in details.
The mystery is well thought out and really kept me turning
the pages.
This is the fourth book in the Hamilton Sisters
series, and
while I'd be interested in reading the other sisters'
stories, I didn't feel like I was missing anything important
by having started towards the end. For the most part O'Riley
did a nice job filling in new readers on who everyone was,
but as the book went along, it got a bit repetitive about
re-introducing characters who'd been out of the picture for
a few pages.
I would recommend TO TEMPT AN IRISH ROGUE to readers who
enjoy Victorian fiction and appreciate a little mystery with
their love stories.
She wanted a life of her own. . .
Paulette Hamilton loves working in her family's London
bookshop. Strong-willed and sharp-witted, she hopes to one
day open a second shop, and she won't let romantic follies
get in her way. But the best laid plans have never met such
a handsome Irish widower with a dubious history. . .
He wanted to leave his behind. . .
Declan Reeves came to London with his young daughter to
escape his life in Ireland. Though he's vowed to never marry
again, he quickly falls prey to the tempting blue eyes of
fair-haired Paulette. But her family is suspicious of his
past, and before he can make her his wife, he must travel to
Ireland to vindicate his reputation. Torn between honor and
desire, Declan and Paulette launch a perilous search for the
truth. Whether it lies in the past or a present beyond their
control, it's their only hope for a future together. . .