Gianelle is but a slave, albeit a gorgeous, blonde one. She takes her own revenge for the insults done to her by her lord, his lecherous brother, and their churlish guests in the form of a few purging herbs added to their drinks. But she never expects to be mesmerized by one of those very guests, a huge man with silvery eyes; a man who reminds her of a wolf stalking his prey...

Lord Dante Risande is a man tortured by the murder of his sister and amazed to find a slave who looks astonishingly like her. When he catches the look-alike slave escaping with a spirited golden-haired beauty, he vows to protect the women from the wrath of Lord Edward Dermott. Dante is on the hunt for his sister’s murderer and the men who are committing treason against the king. To what lengths will he go to protect Gianelle, and what price will he ultimately pay?

Paula Quinn pens a lovely piece of romantic historical fiction in Lord of Temptation. Dante is enough to make a saint fall from grace, and Ms. Quinn crafts him perfectly. He is the classic tormented hero, which always strikes a chord with me. Gianelle is bold, uncowed, and has a hard shell that tries its best to withstand Dante’s velvety voice, hunky physique and heart of gold. She really tries, and it’s heartening to watch her learn herself and open herself to love in spite of her disappointing and dismal history. There’s a “happily-ever-after” here, and it is both satisfying and gratifying to watch these two make their way through the difficulties in their lives. This is a great example of the medieval genre and I know you’ll enjoy it thoroughly! Look for Paula Quinn’s other books in this series, including Lord of Desire and (coming soon) Lord of Seduction.


Reviewed by: Michelle