Audio Book Review-Temptation & Twilight

Temptation and Twilight
The Brethren Guardians (3)
Charlotte Featherstone
HQN
Audiobook
Published June 2012
384 Pages
Victorian Historical Romance
ISBN: 9780373776627
Authors Website  

Synopsis
Iain Sinclair, Marquis of Alynwick, is certain there is a special hell for him. An unrepentant rake, he holds nothing sacred – except for beautiful Elizabeth York. For years, Alynwick has tried to forget the woman he loved so well, and treated so badly. A woman who could hold nothing in her heart for him except hatred.

All of society believes Elizabeth, blind daughter of a duke, to be a proper young lady. But no one knows of her wanton affair with Alynwick. When Lizzy learns of her ancestor’s ancient diary – filled with exotic tales – she longs to uncover the identity of the unnamed lover within and hesitantly allows Alynwick, who claims to have knowledge of the “veiled lady,” to help her solve the mystery.

Eager to be Lizzy’s eyes, Alynwick brings the seductive text to life, and each night it takes greater effort for her to forget his betrayal. With each whispered word, her resolve gives way, without her knowing that a centuries-old secret will lead them to a present-day danger.

My Review
Elizabeth York is a spinster, and blind, and inherited her blindness from her mother who was also blind. With the danger against the Brethren Guardians, her brother wants her to focus on other matters, thinking that she is in grave danger. Most of her life, Elizabeth has had the Guardian business to keep her busy. Now with her blindness, she feels useless. With Iain Sinclair back in her life, she is doing all she can to resist his tender voice and tempting kisses. Suddenly a Lord Sheldon, who shares her interests in the Templar's, is courting her, and for the first time she feels like she can overcome the pain and grief of her past and Iain Sinclair, and find true happiness. Iain Sinclair, one of the Brethren Guardians, is more reckless and hotheaded, and a Scot. He has made many mistakes in his life, but his most disastrous was hurting the one woman with whom he gave his heart too. Iain has finally realized that after all of these years, he still aches and dreams of Beth and the passion they once shared. He knows that he doesn't have a chance in hell to get her back, but being full of pride and arrogance, he tries anyway to show her of his true feelings and that she is the only way that can find anything redeemable in him. 

Temptation and Twilight is the third in the Brethren Guardian series. I really enjoyed the second book through Audible, so I decided to get this title on Audible as well. The second book Pride and Passion ended with a bit of a cliffhanger, so I couldn't wait very long to listen to this story. It begins with seeing Iain getting fully involved in Elizabeth's life, when she begins to be courted by a Lord Sheldon. Iain is full of rage at the mention of his name, but seeing them together, infuriates him so that he attacks Lord Sheldon at a ball and puts Elizabeth into shock and dismay. Elizabeth doesn't trust Iain and that is very obvious through the whole story. Elizabeth has been hurt and betrayed by Iain, since they once had a affair ten years previous, and Elizabeth is still hurt and bitter over it. There is also the side plot of intrigue that develops and starts to unravel as the tension between Iain and Elizabeth gets only more fierce.

I had a few issues with Temptation and Twilight, one being Elizabeth.For the most part I liked her  as the heroine, and I loved the "blindness" aspect, and I admired her for accepting it as she does.  I could understand why she was so bitter and angry with Iain, but it tended to get very frustrating to see how she kept fighting Iain, and vocally, she could get very brutal. As I read this, or listened to it, I got to the point where I wanted to scream or yell at Beth at times. Not always, there were parts of the story especially in the beginning, that I understood why she was so cold and unfeeling toward him. However she didn't really soften until the very end and I found myself being on Iain's side. Iain is more of a darker character, compared to the other Brethren, but you see a side of him that is irresistible.  Iain has made many mistakes, and has sacrificed much for the Brethren Guardians. I couldn't help but love him immensely. Iain, a Scot, gorgeous, temptation itself, and he humbles himself quite a bit for Elizabeth. You see the changes in him, determined to win Elizabeth's forgiveness and her love. I couldn't help but admire his tenacity to stick with it, and I felt like Iain is the most misunderstood of all the guardians, and he just might be my favorite. Because he is far from perfect, has many challenges and faults, but he seemed more human to me, and that is my favorite aspect in characters, is when they have faults and more human.

Overall I fell in love with the last installment in this series, and Temptation and Twilight was a good final story that wrapped the series up nicely. I really enjoyed the tension and the intrigue aspect of the story, and the secrets that are revealed that I have been waiting quite a long time to find out. The romance between Iain and Elizabeth was powerful and stimulating. A erotic filled passion that jumps from the pages, and the story entices and pulls you in so that you can't put it down. A sensual tale that will consume you!!!

Favorite Quote 
It’s always only ever been you. And it always will be, Beth. You have my heart. My love. And my regret that I am not the man you deserve

My Grade 
4 Blossoms 

Heat Rating 
Steamy 

Other Books In Series 
Seduction and Scandal 
Pride and Passion