With her sister and her brother having married offworlders, Princess Fen is being pressured into choosing a man from their planet so that her mother can have at least one child close at hand. But Fen is not ready to settle down and marry; especially one of the nobles that have been invited to the palace to ‘woo’ her. With her ancestor’s ghost prodding her, she tries to balance between duty and her heart’s desire. What makes it even more difficult is the understated manliness of Piers Aaron, the man hired to replace the palace drapes and create new wardrobes for the royal family.

As the disowned grandson of a noble family, Aaron has never fit in and is resigned to admire Fen from afar. When Fen initiates an illicit affair he must follow his heart into her arms, but a brooding danger threatens their budding romance and their very lives.

Michelle M. Pillow once again brings us into the richly detailed world of the Zhang Dynasty. A well-crafted world brings realistic characters into your front room while you read about the trials and tribulations they endure as the premiere family. The bonds they have as siblings are desperately needed while they struggle with duty and following their hearts. I enjoyed watching Fen struggle with her ideals of duty and honor and was happy to see her prevail. Aaron was an angry man who learned about himself as he learned about others. Both characters grew as people in this book and that is a rare thing indeed. Not only are we treated to the plot that winds throughout Temptation of the Butterfly, but we are also able to peek into the life that Francesca and Jin have made for themselves since we last saw them in Seduction of the Phoenix. I cannot wait to see what else is in store for this family.

Reviewed by: Serena