Enjoy heart-meltingly beautiful and toe-curlingly sexy romance in Tempted by Love, an emotionally riveting story about a man who has lost it all and carries a torturous secret, a divorced single mother who has everything to lose, and the little girl who helps them heal. Fall in love on the sandy shores of Silver Island, home to coffee shops, boat races, midnight rendezvous, and the sexy, … and the sexy, sharp-witted Steeles.
In USA Today bestseller TEMPTED BY LOVE…
Years ago, bestselling author Jack “Jock” Steele lost his girlfriend and baby in a horrific accident that drove a wedge between Jock and his family, keeping him from sharing a devastating secret. An aging philanthropist saved him from the brink of despair, and for a decade Jock cared for his ailing friend who became his family. Now his friend has passed away and left him a fortune—on the condition that he publishes another book. Jock is floundering, unsure how to rebuild the life he’d walked away from, much less find his muse, have another relationship with a woman, or even think about having a family of his own. But he can’t get his sweet, sexy new friend, single-mother Daphne Zablonski out of his head, and her adorable toddler must know something he doesn’t, because she wraps her tiny fingers around his heart and won’t let go.
Daphne has been through the wringer with her ex-husband and doesn’t believe true love is in the cards for her. Friends she can handle, but letting a man see her mom bod naked? Especially someone as strikingly handsome and unbelievably sexy as Jock? No, thank you. Besides, she has a toddler to chase after and enough fictional boyfriends to fill her lonely nights. If only her book boyfriends could make her body tingle the way one look from her mysterious neighbor does.
As Jock and Daphne’s friendship turns to something too tempting to deny, their lives take an unexpected turn. Can a man who has lost everything find redemption with a woman who has everything to lose? And then there’s that secret…
More Steeles at Silver Island are coming soon!
TEMPTED BY LOVE (Jock)
MY TRUE LOVE (Jules)
ALWAYS HER LOVE (Levi)
ENTICING HER LOVE (Sutton)
CAUGHT BY LOVE (Archer)
WILD ISLAND LOVE (Leni)
Discover the magic of New York Times bestseller Melissa Foster’s writing and see why millions of readers have fallen in love with the Love in Bloom big-family romance collection. Love in Bloom novels are written to stand alone or may be enjoyed as part of the larger series, so dive right into this fun, sexy romance
Snow Sisters
The Bradens
The Bradens and Montgomerys
The Remingtons
Seaside Summers
Bayside Summers
The Ryders
Wild Boys After Dark
Bad Boys After Dark
The Whiskeys
The Wickeds
Sugar Lake
Harmony Pointe
Harborside Nights
“You can always rely on Melissa Foster to deliver a story that’s fresh, emotional and entertaining. Make sure you have all night, because once you start you won’t want to stop reading.” NYT Bestselling Author Brenda Novak
“With her wonderful characters and resonating emotions, Melissa Foster is a must-read author!” NYT Bestseller J. Kenner
“Melissa Foster is synonymous with sexy, swoony, heartfelt romance!” NYT Bestseller Lauren Blakely
“I highly recommend this book to fans of Nora Roberts…and fans of a sweet story filled with heat and heart.” – Tia Bach, author
“Melissa Foster is quickly becoming one of my favorites…reminds me of Jill Shalvis’ books and they are my benchmark for contemporary romance awesomeness.”
“I highly recommend the Snow Sisters all the Braden and Remington books…They remind me of the McCarthy of Gansett series and The Green Mountain series…” – I Love NY, Reviewer
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With her wonderful characters and resonating emotions, Melissa Foster is a must-read author!
You can always rely on Melissa Foster to deliver a story that’s fresh, emotional and entertaining. Make sure you have all night, because once you start you won’t want to stop reading.
Read: 9/20/2020
Tempted By Love was the first book in the Steele’s of Silver Island series by Melissa Foster. It was one of many within her interconnected Love in Bloom series.
Jack “Jock” Steele was a brooding recluse. We had met him previously in the Bayside Summer series and knew he had a tragic past, but we had no idea what that meant until now.
Daphne Zoblonski was a single mother to three year old Hadley. We had met them previously throughout the entire Bayside Summer series. Daphne worked at the resort but was quickly brought into the fold of the Bayside family.
Tempted By Love was emotional. Jock had a lot to overcome. He had spent the last decade grieving over the loss of his girlfriend and son and had put his life on hold (no spoilers since that was in the description.) Meeting Daphne and Hadley challenged his mindset and took him out of his comfort zone. Foster then took us through a detailed journey of forgiveness, love and learning to live again.
I enjoyed all three characters as well as the Steele and Zoblonski siblings. Through them, Foster definitely set the stage for more books and cross series. I can’t wait for their stories!
All in all, Foster was true to form. It was well written, well developed, multi-dimensional, complex and included a cast of strong and intriguing characters. I can’t wait to see what she does next in the series.
Melissa Foster makes me smile … swoon … happy … just all the things!
I feel like I might just be repeating myself like a broken record when I review a book by Melissa Foster but holy balls kids, she is really just that good! I’m running out of good things to tell you about her word wizardry!
This time she wove an unforgettable tale of growth, redemption, moving forward, acceptance, love, and hope. To say this story is emotional would be an understatement, all the emotions! Every plot point from beginning to end carried an emotion. I cried a lot. Loss of any kind but especially of a child can be an unbearable haunting. I know, I’m living it. That may be why I cried so much, I don’t know, but there is depth of emotion attached to this story. It might be different for different readers, but emotion is emotion and this story packs a punch! It is uplifting and hopeful, humorous and fun at time, and always swoony!
This was a great introduction to a new series. I’m ready to read more about the Steeles at Silver Island!!
I swear Melissa Foster can write some romance and pull out all the feels. When I first laid eyes on Jock was in Bayside Fantasies, it was when he noticed Daphne. We get their story in the first of the new series, the Steeles of Silver Island. The tales there are going to be so good. But back to Jock. He has tragedy behind him; Melissa helps us feel the pain he’s enduring as he tries to move past his pain and guilt. This story is complex and profoundly moving. Yes, tissues were involved.
Daphne, a single mom, has her daughter Hadley who has the most winsome personality ever. I believe Hadley is going to be an old soul, but she loves and loves hard. Her character is a driving force in the novel’s movement, and it makes for another layer of emotion that just pulls at your heartstrings. When Jock and Daphne begin building on their friendship and mutual attraction, everything clicks, and we know the story will only get better. We have a fantastic supporting cast from previous books that give support, advice, and action. Plus, we meet the Steeles (Jock’s family), who will entertain us as this new series progresses.
I enjoy Melissa’s writing, and this is one I enjoyed enormously. The first books I read by Melissa were the Sugar Lake books, and all three of those novels involved tissues, lots of tissues. This book is the same, Jock is an unforgettable character, and Daphne is perfect for him. Add in the delightful Hadley, and this book is setting the stage for a stellar new series.
The summer of 2020 will be remembered for many things – quarantine/pandemic, presidential race, struggles of a wide variety for many BUT, most of all 2020 is the summer I finally got to me Hadley Zablonski in Tempted By Love!! (PS-she isn’t even the main heroine, her mama is) Hadley is the cutest almost 3 yr old fictional character I’ve ever met. This little girl will wrap you around her precious little fingers with just one little scowl (smiles are reserved for special people, aka Jock Steele). Hadley is the daughter of Daphne. Daphne is the manager/receptionist at Bayside Resort. Daphne has been through some tough times learning to be a single mom, getting divorced from a man who didn’t want to know or want to love a child. Jackson “Jock” Steele is a man still reeling from some horrible events 10 yrs in his past and most recently the death of the man he cared for, Harvey. Jock has a long road ahead of him to be able to put his demons in the past and forge a new path/reconnect with his family who live on Silver Island. Can Daphne and Hadley help Jock find that path? If I’m not careful with all I want to say about this newest love story by Melissa Foster I will be giving away the story and that is not happening. So, just know that you will need tissues for happy tears, OMG tears, you will find yourself in some pretty steamy between the sheets scenes, and completely falling in love with the newest world of Melissa Foster. Sooo many new characters to love and visits/connections with ones you already know and love. I found myself with tears, saying “Oh My Goodness”, and literally bouncing on my toes for this new world. If you love big families, alpha males who will love, protect, and fall hard when they meet the woman meant for them, then you will love this newest world of Melissa Foster, The Steeles of Silver Island. The first book in this new series is Tempted By Love (Jock and Daphne). Each book can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend alI books from Melissa Foster. The Bayside Desires series is the most closely related series. For the audiobook, Brian Pallino’s performance is great, I love the deep baritone, especially for those oh-so-hot between-the-sheets scenes! Jennifer Mack does an equally outstanding performance as Daphne and Hadley. This beautiful love story is great even if you only read the words. But, listening to this story is brought beautifully to life by Brian and Jennifer is a whole new experience. I have come to learn that voice-narrators/actors are so talented because of all the voices they may have to create/perform in a story. Totally recommend this audio not just for the story or the voices but for the whole experience. I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review. 5-stars easily!! *****
received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. *****
What an amazing story of healing and love!
The heartache that Jock goes through will bring tears to your eyes. When he meets Daphne, he wants to be with her more than anything. But because of his past, he has a difficult time around small children. So when she tells him they can’t continue hanging out because she doesn’t want to hurt her daughter, Hadley, he decides it’s time to face his demons. It’s such a beautiful story! Watching them help heal past hurts and become each other’s everything, was truly something special. I love that Daphne helped Jock to also reconnect with his family. This was so well written and I couldn’t put it down. I highly recommend it!
“Sometimes the hardest things in life lead us to the best things,”
I took my time with this one. It had been sitting on my Kindle for a while, but, just like with every Melissa Foster book, I needed to be in the right headspace for it. Her characters are always real. They have flaws and they’ve been through real life issues, which makes it hard sometimes, but I get through it because I know there’s always a happily ever after at the end.
This was the case with Jock and Daphne’s story. They pulled me in, made me cry, but made me so happy as well.
“He was like a mysterious puzzle—a sinfully hot, funny, and flirtatious puzzle.”
Jock carries the book for me. He’s this amazing guy, who seems detached and out of it, but only because he’s been through hell. Most people don’t seem to see it, but underneath the hard, uncaring exterior is a man who cares so much, who loves so much, and who is worth everything good. Jock is really swoonworthy, and most of the quotes here are his because he captured my heart.
“And there’s that blush I can’t stop thinking about.”
Daphne is a real woman. She has the everyday concerns of a single mom, regarding money, a job, and a roof over their heads. She was left to raise Hadley alone, since her deadbeat ex-husband didn’t want a kid, and she’s perfect at it. Putting her kid first means she’s been alone for a while, and she doesn’t think anyone would want the package deal. Or her, for that matter.
“A man would have to be blind not to see you.”
Jock and Daphne first met about a year ago. She noticed him, but she doesn’t think he noticed her. She’s mostly clueless as to the way guys see her because she doesn’t see herself as interesting or beautiful. But Jock does. Daphne’s kid, Hadley, is absolutely in love with ‘Dock’, but he doesn’t seem to care about her and he flinches whenever she comes near. So Daphne’s written him off as someone she can’t think about, because someone who doesn’t care about her daughter can never be with her.
“You make me feel things I never have. I see you and my pulse kicks up. You smile, and it lights up everything around you, including me.”
Jock realizes he’s hurting them both, and himself, by keeping them at a distance. When he comes to apologize to Daphne, the chemistry between them and just how right they are for each other becomes obvious. Their conversations are both sweet and steamy, and could lead to so much more. But Jock knows he has to come clean about his past for Daphne to fully understand him and give him, and them, a chance.
“You have become the axis on which my world spins.”
Daphne not only loves him, but helps him get through his dark past and reconnect with his family. Jock loves her with everything he has, and he helps her see herself as the woman she’s always been, and own her curves and who she is completely. Their moments together are hot, and very much filled with love. I loved that Jock was such a flirt and that Daphne blushed at his lines. That made them even more perfect for each other in my eyes.
I’ve read some of Melissa’s work, so I enjoyed some of the characters I recognized from other books. The number of names is sometimes overwhelming, but it doesn’t take anything away from Daphne and Jock’s story. The presence of family, in all its forms, is something that defines Melissa’s work and makes it even more enjoyable for me.
“I love who you are and who I am with you. I love being Dock, and I really love being us.”
Theirs was a hard-earned happily ever after. Their story is all about healing and acceptance – of yourself and those around you –, and knowing you’re worthy of love, of family, of happiness. Of someone who loves you like you hung the moon, because for them you really did.
Audiobook Review:
What an emotional but oh so romantic story. I absolutely loved every moment of it. And just when I would think that things would be winding down to the HEA, another twist or unexpected turn would be thrown in and have me pulled even deeper into the story. My heart broke for Jock and everything he’d been through. His past was filled with so much hurt and loss that I wanted nothing more then for him to find happiness. And Daphne absolutely felt like the perfect fit for him. I loved how her daughter Hadley was not only her priority, but the catalyst for so much positive progression in the story. I also really loved the introduction to more new characters and this kickoff to the Steele family. I loved all of them and cannot wait to hear their stories.
This one was perfectly narrated by Jennifer Mack and Brian Pallino. Both of whom I’ve heard before and enjoyed, but absolutely loved voicing these characters. Brian had this gruff tone that I really felt suited Jock and Jennifer sounded energetic and passionate. This was all around a fantastic listening experience.
I absolutely loved Tempted by Love by Melissa Foster; it is an incredible love at first sight love story. It is the first book in her The Steeles at Silver Island series. Melissa Foster continues to prove that she is an amazing storyteller. I could not put Tempted by Love down and I loved every moment on every page. Who doesn’t love hot sexy men, strong females, loving families and friends, who always support one another? I love how Melissa Foster somehow manages to find the “perfect” heroine, who is a strong woman on her own, to balance out her men. I really enjoy how the book is told from the perspective of the main characters. I love getting the insight and feelings from the different characters. Tempted by Love is a love at first sight love story and is filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. I love the lighter moments where I find myself smiling and laughing out loud. My favorite moments are the ones that pull at my heartstrings that cause me to sigh, as I read the heartbreaking moments. Tempted by Love is filled with such moments, and with so much emotion. It is filled with all those things that we have come to love and expect in a love story, Melissa Foster did not disappoint, especially with the poignant and bittersweet moments that filled this page turner. Tempted by Love is the story of Jack “Jock” Steele, author, suffering from writer’s block and Daphne Zablonski, resort manager and single mom, to three-year-old Hadley. Daphne and Jock meet at a wedding of common friends and Jock is staying in a cabin in the resort when Daphne works. Jock is haunted by his past, which causes his interactions with Hadley to be difficult for him. Once Daphne confronts Jock on his reactions to Hadley, he agrees to make an effort to change. I love how Hadley calls Jock, “My Dock”. Conversation between Daphne and Jock flows so easily, I love that both Daphne and Jock share secrets and insecurities with one another that they have not shared with anyone before, especially the secrets that Jock shares about the night that changed his life forever. As Daphne and Jock spend time together, things change between them and they both admit their true feelings for one another. I loved that Tempted by Love is a more than just a romance, there are dilemmas that both Daphne and Jock are facing that need to be resolved. I love how the storylines get so beautifully resolved. I love the plot twist that ends with Jock’s proposal and I love the ending of the love story. I love how Jock changes because of the love of a three-year-old little girl and her mother. One of my favorite parts is how Jock makes Daphne’s and Hadley’s dreams come true. I love all the little things that Jock does for Daphne to prove his love. Tempted by Love is filled with poignant and bittersweet moments as well as plot twists. I love the characters and the family dynamic in Tempted by Love the characters feel like family and friends. I enjoyed all the interactions between the Steele siblings and Jock’s interactions with his siblings, it feels like real family love and makes me laugh at their teasing and all their pranks. I loved all the characters in Tempted by Love and I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series. Who doesn’t love family and friends that always have each other’s backs? I thoroughly enjoyed Tempted by Love, who doesn’t love a love at first sight love story. Highly recommend this incredible love story and am so looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
Tempted By Love – Book 1 of Melissa Foster’s The Steeles At Silver Island, is Jack/Jock Steele’s book. How I just started reading Melissa’s books is a mystery to me because with each book I have read, I am mesmerized by her words. This book is an incredibly beautiful and touching single parent romance. But honestly it’s more than that. It’s about second chances, not just in love, but in life.
Daphne is a single mom. She is dedicated to her daughter, Hadley, and is doing a damn good job raising her all on her own. This sweet, curvaceous beauty, has one goal, make her child happy and she works hard at it every day. Jock is a knight in dented armor. He is, in Daphne’s words beautifully “wounded” not broken, by the events in his past and his struggles to overcome everything and be the man he needs to be, to fully love Daphne and Hadley, makes this book a mesmerizing read.
I fell in love with all three of them, one page at a time. My book loving heart melted, over and over again with each sigh inducing kiss, Daphne and Jock shared and each and every time Hadley said “my Dock”, I sighed long and hard. Never have I ever wanted to see three people get their happily ever after as much as these three. It was absolutely perfect. This book is absolutely perfect. TBR Tempted By Love and enjoy.
This is the first book in the Steele’s at Silver Island Series and it’s a great start to what I’m sure will be a fantastic series. Jack “Jock” Steele lost his girlfriend and unborn child in an accident and as a result it is painful for him to be around children. After the accident caused a rift, he retreated from his family and his life. Daphne is a divorced single mom with an adorable daughter, Hadley. She works at a small seaside resort but dreams of being an event planner. Hadley initially brings Jock and Daphne together. Despite the obvious chemistry, they are both resistant to even the idea of a relationship – Jock because of the pain being around a child causes and Daphne because she has no time for romance, especially with someone who recoils from her child. Jock and Daphne’s story has all the feels – expect to laugh and cry. All of Melissa Foster’s books have a central theme of family – those we are born into and those we create – and beautiful heart squeezing love. This book is no different. Throughout this beautifully paced story of Jock and Daphne’s HEA, there is pain as well as redemption, forgiveness and joy. They each have to deal with their difficult and painful pasts and learn to see the hope and joy in the future. With the Tempted by Love, Melissa Foster once again proves she’s a fantastic storyteller and I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.
Great read. Enjoyed reading about Jock and Daphne book. It was a bit slow at times,but it picks up. Loved the characters and the plot. Can’t wait to read the next book.
4.5 Tempting Stars!
This captivating and emotional romance is a great start to The Steeles at Silver Island series! I love the world that Foster has created that is filled with so much love, quirky and loyal friendships, and lots of steamy passion. Jack “Jock” Steele and Daphne Zablonski’s sweet and steamy romance has them helping each other heal from their heartbreaking pasts. Daphne is a dedicated single mom to an adorable little girl, Hadley. Hadley loves Jock, and she tries to be his friend. But Jock’s heartbreaking past makes him keep his distance. It kills him to make her sad, and her mother as well. He is so attracted to the sexy single mom, so he must find a way to heal old wounds. Daphne has low self esteem but is so kind and a great mom. I loved how she always put her daughter first and wouldn’t consider giving her heart to a man who couldn’t love Hadley as well. I loved how their relationship unfolded, how they helped each other heal, and grow stronger. They had so much fun together, and their chemistry was explosive. This heartfelt, and charming story is filled with witty banter, quirky characters, awkward situations, and fiery chemistry. Narrators, Jennifer Mack, and Brian Pallino did a great job bringing these characters to life and making me fall in love with this island community. I loved this fun, emotional, sweet & sexy romance, and want more of these wonderful friends and family of Silver Island!
Overall 5 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 5 out of 5 stars
friendship, chemistry, trust, respect
It was simply beautiful to watch as Jack (Jock), Daphne and Hadley all fall in love. For Hadley it was love at first sight. Jock had much to over come to allow love to consume him completely. He had a hard past that colored his perception of life, love, and children. Daphne had her life in order as she thought it was until it was not. That left her divorced and a mother to a newborn baby girl. A baby girl that was her whole world. If you don’t love or at the least like her child, you have not chance with her.
Daphne was the temptation that Jock was not expecting. His past collides with his attempts to make a future with this young beautiful single mother of one. His beautiful girl was everything he could every want in his world.
I have to say there was a bit more emotional scenes than I was expecting. I was moved to tears a few times and just-plain laugh out loud in a few other places. This was the perfect afternoon read that gave me as good as I could have hoped for. Melissa Foster gives a romance that was more just connecting. The two character were more than just coming together for the chemistry they shared, but by the friendship they were building. The inclusion of Hadley and the other characters we were introduced to on Silver Island.
Jennifer Mack and Brian Pallino gave a duo performance that allowed for you to feel a deeper connection with the character. Melissa Fosters words were give life and then some.
Single parent romances are completely my jam. Love them! Melissa Foster has given me everything I wanted and MORE in her book, Tempted by Love. To say that this story has all the feels is putting it lightly. The emotional journey that Jock and Daphne take had me tearing up severals times, my tummy fluttering with butterflies the size of pterodactyls, and left me with a huge smile. Plus, who doesn’t like cute kiddos? Hadley was just adorable. I just loved everything about this story.
Narration was performed by Jennifer Mack and Brian Pallino. I am familiar with both narrators, but hadn’t yet heard them narrate together, but so glad about this combo! Both did a fantastic job of bringing the story to life, the couples chemistry, and infusing each character with tons of emotion. Loved them!
Audio Review
This book starts out with a slow buildup between Jock and Daphne, giving us glimpses as to why Jock is a lost soul. Daphne has dealt with loss and pain and she is trying to move on with her daughter. Jock has pain and secrets and when he is around them he finds he is wanting more. This sweet little girl is melting his frozen heart and he is seeing he wants more with them. Daphne can’t believe the hot man would be interested in her, especially since she can’t see past her extra pounds she has and lack of time for herself for to fix herself up but he does and together they will help mend both of their broken hearts.
Jennifer Mack and Brian Pallino do a great job. I believe this is my first time listening to either one of them and I enjoyed them both.
This book has great characters and a great story and I enjoyed listening to it.
I love Melissas books. I select them any time they are offered and often order ahead. Great work!
This was a great book. Daphne is a single mother who has been watching her friends find love. Jock, has never recovered from a tragedy 10 years ago. He was attracted to Daphne when they first met a year ago, but the issue he is having is handling the affections from her daughter Hadley. Hadley is loved by all, but she scowls at most….except for Jock— who she loves and runs to. He doesn’t dislike children, but doesn’t want them to rely on him. I liked the vulnerability we see from Daphne, in addition to her protectiveness over Hadley. I loved watching Jock finally come to grips with his past and figure out how to move on. I also loved Hadley. We also get to meet Jock’s family and friends from Silver Island and can’t wait to read their stories! Great read.
4.5 stars
This book is so amazingly sweet and sexy and heartwarming and beautiful. It’s really all the good adjectives. If you’ve been reading the Love in Bloom stories, you already know both Jock and Daphne. And, although these books are written so they can be read as standalone stories, I feel like you’d get so much more out of the story if you, at the very least, read Bayside Fantasies for a bit more insight into Jock and his situation.
I love the relationship Daphne and Jock build once Jock makes up his mind to work on his issues. But I even loved them both before that. The horror Jock felt at possibly hurting Daphne or her daughter Hadley squeezed my heart. And that mama bear inside of Daphne was so true and real.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this story was getting to know Jock’s family better. I can’t wait to see where things go for his siblings, especially Archer. I’m excited about the citizens of Silver Island and where this locale can be blended into so many future Love in Bloom stories.
Of course, I love all of Daphne’s friends, but they would sometimes upset me when they didn’t see how much she was being held back. I understood their reasons for not wanting to expand. They have found their HEAs and want time with their families, not more time working. But nobody seemed to realize what it meant to her and offer to help her come up with some other ideas to stretch her mental muscles and find fulfillment. It was a joy to see Daphne find the courage to go for what she wants, in many different ways. As the story progressed, she found more and more confidence and learned to speak up. Part of that was unlearning things that she learned in her first marriage to a man who never helped to build her up. I was cheering for her throughout and so happy to watch her growth.
Another winner from Melissa Foster.