Book Review-The Temptation Of Your Touch

The Temptation Of Your Touch
Burke Brothers (2)
Teresa Medeiros
Pocket Books
Paperback
Published February 2013
420 Pages
Regency Historical Romance
ISBN: 978-1-4391-5790-9
Authors Website

Synopsis
A new enchanting historical romance from a “superb storyteller” (Booklist) and New York Times bestselling author featuring a handsome, brooding Earl who finds himself drawn to his prim and proper housekeeper.

Maximillian Burke has always prided himself on being the man every mother would want her daughter to marry. But after his scoundrel of a brother makes off with Max’s bride, Max discovers it’s more satisfying to be a rogue than the perfect gentleman. Forced to flee London after a duel gone wrong, he seeks refuge at Cadgwyck Manor on the lonely coast of Cornwall, a place as wild and savage as his current temper. The tumbledown manor comes complete with its own ghost, but oddly enough, it’s not the White Lady of Cadgwyck who haunts Max’s heated dreams—but his no-nonsense housekeeper.

The last thing housekeeper Anne Spencer needs is a new master, especially one as brooding and gorgeous as the Earl of Dravenwood. Even as she schemes to be rid of her new employer, she finds herself irresistibly drawn into his strong, muscular arms. When Max vows to solve the mystery of Cadgwyck’s ghost, he doesn’t realize it will put both of their hearts at risk and tempt them to surrender to a pleasure as delicious as it is dangerous.

My Review 

 
Maximmilian Burke has always known who and what he was, and for years he was in love with a woman, who abandoned him at the altar to marry his brother. Ever since the relationship between himself and his brother has been strained to say the least. London has become tedious and needing a change in his life, he decides to head out the the countryside to Cadgewyck Manor, and when he first sees the manor, he think he may be going crazy, but he feels a kinship to the crumbling building. When he arrives, he doesn't get the welcome he expects or has become used to over the years due to his position. With rumors of ghosts and mystery and death, the estate appeals to him, but more than that, the stubborn and prideful housekeeper who has him on his wits end, amuses him and he finds himself attracted to a woman he normally wouldn't be attracted to. Max hasn't dallied with a servant for many years, but temptation is in every surrounding, and he can't help but wonder what passion he could find in her arms, despite the schemes she and the other servants are playing on him, Max is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery and gain every secret the manor and this tempting housekeeper has....no matter what.

The Temptation Of Your Touch is the second in the series, and having loved every book this author has written, I had to wait quite a while for this book to become available at my local library, but once it did, I could hardly wait to pick it up. Even though the reviews and ratings for this story has been a bit lower than I expected, I wanted to try it out for myself, and even though the beginning of the story I had a hard time fully getting into, I was able to eventually get into it, and I found myself captivated by this author's amazing ability with her storytelling. After loving the first one, and seeing quite a bit of Max, I was very anxious to read his story. This book is quite different from the first one in the series. The story starts with Max hearing rumors of ghosts and mystery and intrigue surrounding the manor, and I for one am a fan of mysteries, so from the get go I was intrigued by the beginning of the plot. The chemistry between Max and Ann isn't all at once in the beginning, its more of a gradual build up. You see how much they are attracted to each other, but with Anne trying to drive off another "ruler of the manor" she is a bit preoccupied, but Anne is startled that none of their trickery is working, its only making Max's stubbornness become more entrenched than she imagined. I enjoyed seeing the creativity of Anne and the fellow servants, it was quite entertaining at times, and honestly Max is a saint for dealing with it all in stride. The plot thickens even more gradually with more evidences coming to light pertaining to the mystery that is in play throughout the whole story.

The characters in this story were very lively and easily like able. I couldn't help but loving the main and the side characters. Max has a strength of characters that is admirable, and his tenacity is to be commended. He doesn't let anyone bully him, even if that someone is a beautiful woman that captures his attention everywhere he goes. I enjoyed having him play the part of the Hero, he definitely deserved the part.  Anne definitely surprised me by how much I grew to like her. At first she was a average like of a heroine character, the more I delved deeper into the story, I grew to find her a endearing characters, with a nature that was intoxicating. Seeing Max and Anne together was very satisfying especially toward the end. I loved how self aware the heroine is, and fights for what she wants, but Max is definitely her equal match, and its quite evident as you read the story. I couldn't help but find the deeply enriched emotion filling the pages enthralling, and the delightful mixture of mystery, drama, and passion. This author is stellar and I found her storytelling has still remained superb. BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN TALE THAT CAPTIVATES THE READ FROM THE FIRST PAGE!!

First Line 
Maximillian Burke was a very bad man. 

Favorite Quote 
“I am the one who needs rescuing. Save me … Save me from going back to being the man I was before I came here. Save me from all the years of loneliness I’ll have to endure without you in my arms. Save me from spending the rest of my life longing for a woman I can never have.” 

My Grade 
4 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Warm

Other Books in Series 
The Pleasure Of Your Kiss