Tempting

Rating:
Summary: TEMPTING-Simon and Christine-SPOILERS
Review: favorite scene with christine-
protecting rebecca from the enemy.

simon-
his heart to heart with his grandfather.

together-
refusing his proposal.

Rating:
Summary: If you like conflicted, tortured heros, this is for you!
Review: In London in 1867, Simon Belleville is somewhat of an enigma, a truly self-made man, and no one acquainted with him would guess at his auspicious origins. Only in his mid-thirties, he gained his fortune through hard work and clever investments, a far cry from his poverty-stricken childhood.

Heading up Her Majesty???s Morality and Vice Commission, he leads a raid on Madame LeBow???s brothel, where he discovers an abused woman in the attic. Feeling compassion for the slight young girl, Christine Tremayne, he takes her into his home. As the compassion turns to attraction, Simon begs his friend Margot to take Christine into her school for young ladies, as she may be a hindrance to his political career.

But as the months pass at the girls' school, and Christine, the dairymaid, has a slow metamorphosis into Christine, the lady, she gains the attraction of a suitor who does not see her as marriage material. Posing as his cousin, Christine journeys with Simon to his country estate where he assumes the role of tutor. As his political aspirations war with his thawing heart, Simon must make some life altering decisions with regards to his feelings for Christine.

Ms. Tarr???s credible historical research lends an air of believability to this read thereby making the characters come to life. Steering away from the formulaic ???rake??? of a hero, this author has shown her hero with a very different, vulnerable side, that he has hidden to the world. For a love story as magical as it is moving, Ms. Tarr???s latest is hopefully, a portent of her novels to come.

Rating:
Summary: Four and a half stars!
Review: Simon Belleville, head of Her Majesty's Morality and Vice Commission, is supposed to be taking prostitutes to prison, not to finishing school. Yet one look at Christine Tremayne and Simon's entire world tilts on its axis. Desperate to escape the brothel in which Simon finds her, Christine grabs at the chance to improve her station, thereby enabling her to support her family back home. But will Simon's feelings for Christine destroy his dream of holding a seat in Parliament? Will Christine's past ruin her one chance at true love?

Hope Tarr writes a Pygmalion tale layered with a fast plot, multi-faceted characters and charming wit. The full gamut of emotions-from guilt and rage, to joy and love-will be found between the pages of this book. Christine will surprise you, and Simon torment you. You'll laugh, you'll cheer, you'll cry. Truly an enjoyable read. -- Kris at Author, Author!

Rating:
Summary: Another wonderful story from Hope Tarr!
Review: Simon Bellville knows poverty first hand having grown up in the worst possible place. Though almost two decades have passed, Simon remains haunted by his failure to protect his sister from the rape that destroyed her mental state and eradicated her smile. By 1867, Simon had become legendary in London for making a fortune, but remains obsessed with that crime that changed his life. He now runs Her Majesty's Morality and Vice Commission as his means of attaining atonement for his one defeat of failing to keep his sibling safe.

Simon invades a brothel only to find the seemingly innocent Christine Tremain incarcerated in the attic. Instead of sending her to Newgate as he knows he should, Simon enrolls her in school. Soon Simon finds he must choose between his growing attraction and apparent love for Christine and his efforts to join Parliament. She is just the type of scandal that could end his political career before it begins.

Though in many ways TEMPTING is a typical early Victorian romance, what makes this novel stand out among the ton of historicals is the underlying morality theme. The story line cleverly provides an ethics message that "to thine own self be true" as the values the characters contain make the key cast members seem genuine. The era with the changing of Parliament and the prime cast feel real so that the audience will have quite a good time with this tale and hope that Ms. Tarr rapidly provides another strong story such as this one.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Cute, but...
Review: Temping by Hope Tarr, is a decent book, but it seem that Ms. Tarr really did not give that reader any fresh material. You had the young innocent girl, the hadsome rich man, a older woman who is able to turn the young innocent into a lady in under three months and of course the evil cousin. This is a story that has been told many times before.
This book could have been alot better if Ms. Tarr had done more with the plot.

Rating:
Summary: Solid Good Read
Review: TEMPTING starts off strong with a tragic and violent prologue that sets that stage and make-up of the main character, Simon Belleville. As a young boy he witnesses a violent act upon his sister, and feeling helpless and the cause for the tragedy, closes him off to others. His pursuits turn to making himself a self-made man in English society.
As the newly appointed head of Queen Victoria's Morality & Vice Commission, Simon Belleville finds himself breaking up a brothel where he discovers Christine in an attic. Not sure why, he takes the lovely young "prostitute" to his home instead of to Newgate Gaol. As an aspiring Member of Parliament, the very last thing Simon needs is a scandal so he introduces her as his cousin. However, he has anything but cousinly feelings towards the intriguing young girl.

Christine is also no stranger to hardship and tragedy. Bullied by her cousin who she believes she has killed, she finds herself alone, hungry, and in a brothel. Simon changes all that, as her "dark angel" and places in his old mistress's school to develop a refined woman.

Hope Tarr weaves a tale of two people searching for themselves and for each other. The mixture of violence, which is not graphically portrayed, and the nature of the gentle tale are an unusual mix. It could almost be characterized as an innocent and sweet romance without these dark undercurrents running throughout the book. I would have liked to see Ms. Tarr develop these dark themes more, and not hesitate to show the reader the brutalism endured by the main characters. I believe it would have helped strengthen the storyline of the book.

TEMPTING is an original and enjoyable read from the talented Ms. Tarr. There is an earthy realism to her writing style; her characters are portrayed as real people with flaws, both physical and mental. Don't miss this special read!