London, April 1825Lord Jakob Radclyffe left his past behind in the Far East. Or so he thinks until a ruthless thief surfaces in London, threatening to ruin his daughter’s reputation. With the clock ticking, Jake needs the scandalous Lady Olivia Montfort’s connections in the art world to protect his daughter’s future.Olivia, too, has a past she’d like to escape. By purchasing her very own Mayfair … her very own Mayfair townhouse, she’ll be able to start a new life independent from all men. There’s one problem: she needs a powerful man’s name to do so. The Viscount St. Alban is the perfect name.
A bargain is struck.
What Olivia doesn’t anticipate is the temptation of the viscount. The undeniable spark of awareness that races between them undermines her vow to leave love behind. Soon, she has no choice but to rid her system of Jake by surrendering to her craving for a single scorching encounter.
But is once enough? Sometimes once only stokes the flame of desire higher and hotter. And sometimes once is all the heart needs to risk all and follow a mad passion wherever it may lead.
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At the RWA book signing, the authors whose names begin with B sat facing the authors whose names begin with D. When I ran out of books to sign, I wandered over to say hi to Tessa Dare, who happened to be sitting next to Sophie Darling. While I was waiting my turn to greet Tessa (readers, ya know), I picked up Tempted by the Viscount and started reading… Oh, what a delightful book! Sophie Darling has an eye for the telling detail, whether it’s in a setting, a character’s internal reflections, or a turn of phrase in dialogue. Her writing is vivid, her characters complex and compelling. I scarfed this one up (plane rides are good for something after all), though I did take a minute to say hi to Tessa too!
This story is definitely different which I really liked. Both Jake and Olivia are people just trying to get through life. Oliva is a strong woman and reading about how she was not going to give in was very satisfying. As with all romances, love wins out and I was happy to see that they got their HEA. The issue I had with the book is that it is very flowery and sometimes I was scratching my head wondering what just went on. For example, why is Jake in England looking for a thief? I don’t remember the reason coming up early in the book. I wished the storyline of his daughter was more prevalent. I do have to wonder if she will get a story…and Hugh?!?!?!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
London, April 1825. Entertaining from beginning to end, this is a story of two people who have a reason to help each other. Sofie Darling’s well drawn characters easily come to life as Lord Jakob Radclyffe and Lady Olivia Montfort strike an agreement. Jake tried to leave his previous life in the Far East behind as he returned to London and is trying to protect his daughter. As a man from his past begins to threaten his daughter, he is desperate to find a way out. Olivia is looking to start a new life for herself by becoming independent and buying her own home. But she needs the aid of a man and Jake seems to fit the bill as he asks for her help on his situation. Who would have thought an attraction would follow that has a life of its own? Can they overcome their attraction and just work together? A wonderful story of unexpected desire that will have you turning the pages and not wanting the story to end!! I really enjoyed this second book by Sofiie Darling and cannot wait for the next!! Although this is part of a series this can be read as a standalone but why not read the first book also? You will be glad you did.
Publisher’s Description:
London, April 1825
Lord Jakob Radclyffe left his past behind in the Far East. Or so he thinks until a ruthless thief surfaces in London, threatening to ruin his daughter’s reputation. With the clock ticking, Jake needs the scandalous Lady Olivia Montfort’s connections in the art world to protect his daughter’s future.
Olivia, too, has a past she’d like to escape. By purchasing her very own Mayfair townhouse, she’ll be able to start a new life independent from all men. There’s one problem: she needs a powerful man’s name to do so. The Viscount St. Alban is the perfect name.
A bargain is struck.
What Olivia doesn’t anticipate is the temptation of the viscount. The undeniable spark of awareness that races between them undermines her vow to leave love behind. Soon, she has no choice but to rid her system of Jake by surrendering to her craving for a single scorching encounter.
But is once enough? Sometimes once only stokes the flame of desire higher and hotter. And sometimes once is all the heart needs to risk all and follow a mad passion wherever it may lead.
My Thoughts:
This book had some exciting moments and some that were just plain dull.
However the sexual tension between our hero and heroine is not to be missed. It makes for a very sensual read.
Jake thinks since Olivia is a scandalous divorcee having an affair with her will be just the thing to rid himself of his need for her. She is too scandalous to fill his need for a stepmother for his daughter. Is she also somehow connected to the art thief he is now seeking or is it merely coincidence?
Olivia on the other hand has other ideas. She will not be taken for granted once again. After living several years certain that her husband is dead she suddenly found herself not a widow after all but an abandoned wife instead. With the help of her father-in-law she obtained an absolution of the marriage. Now she is not looking for another husband but it appears one may have fallen into her lap.
This was a very good read. I own the first book but have not yet read it so I can’t comment on if this is the better or lesser of the two.
This book gets 4.5 of 5.0 stars from me for storyline and characterization and a high sensual rating of 4 of 5 flames. As much as both hero and heroine try to keep their distance the intimacy is very, very hot.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the publisher to read both through Hidden Gems and a gifted file for an upcoming blog tour. I read this book voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.
Tempted by the Viscount by Sofie Darling is a daring, witty, sexy yet emotionally complex. A “Shadows and Silk” Regency Romance, but can be read as a stand alone. This is my first read by this author, and I highly enjoyed TEMPTED BY THE VISCOUNT.
Well crafted with charming and enjoyable characters. The storyline is filled with an emotional complexity that will keep readers turning pages. It is funny at times, with witty dialogue, sexy, danger, shame, fear, deceit, deception, trust, guilt, truth, and a HEA. There are many struggles and challenges for Lord Jakob Radclyffe, Viscount St. Alban and Lady Olivia Montfort, in order to meet these challenges to find their HEA. I thoroughly enjoyed this unpredictable, intriguing and interesting story. A must read!
“I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however, these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review.”
Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewer: AprilR
Tempted By The Viscount by Sofie Darling is an amazing historical romance. Ms. Darling has provided us with a book that is well-written and populated it with phenomenal characters. Olivia’s husband was declared dead in the war, years later she learned he was alive and a spy and she was granted a divorce. Jake didn’t want to be Viscount, but he now finds himself a Viscount with a secret. Olivia and Jake’s tale is loaded with drama, humor, sizzle and a touch of suspense. I enjoyed this book from cover to cover and look forward to reading more from Sofie Darling in the future. Tempted By The Viscount is part of the Shadows and Silk Series but can easily be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Tempted by the Viscount by Sofie Darling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Series: Tempted by the Viscount (Shadows and Silk #2)
Publication Date: 6/27/18
This is the second book in this series and also the second book I’ve read by this author. I’ve been looking forward to it because the last book was exciting and interesting and I hoped this one would be the same. However, this one wasn’t exciting. It was a bit dull and repetitive. He had to have a proper, scandal-free step-mother for his daughter and she couldn’t give up her freedom for any man. There were numerous scenes, but the same theme.
I really liked our hero, Jakob Radclyffe, Fifth Viscount St. Alban. He had no expectation of being a Viscount and certainly had no desire to be one. The title belonged to another branch of his family tree and he had hardly seen any of them in his lifetime. His father had married a Dutch shipping heiress and become part of that family. Jake was raised in that environment and had no clue about how the English lived – nor did he wish to know. However, after many, many pleas from his English family, he headed to London with his daughter, Mina, to accept the title. One thing Jake knew for sure is that he’d also have to acquire a proper, scandal-free English wife along with the title because Mina is half Japanese and she’ll need help fitting in and being accepted.
It was a long slog to try to get to like our heroine, Lady Olivia Montfort, and I never quite got there. I didn’t dislike her, I just never understood her. Twelve years ago, when she was seventeen and he was about twenty, she married a man she loved desperately – at least she thought she did. Then, because she rushed head-long into that marriage without getting to know the groom and without listening to any of the adults in the room – she was done with the marriage after six months! What! No, he wasn’t a good husband – but he was the normal husband of that period. He didn’t hurt her or mistreat her – he just wanted a society type marriage where he could float along on the surface of it – and she wanted more. Should that short six-months turn her against men and marriage forever? I think that whole reaction was way over the top. I mean – she was willing to have her daughter declared a bastard in order to have her marriage dissolved. I didn’t care for what I saw of her in the last book, and that didn’t improve with this book.
Jakob first saw Olivia at a ball at her former father-in-law’s home. He was immediately attracted to her. From what he’d learned of her, she was a scandal. Because of Mina’s heritage, he couldn’t afford to marry anyone whose reputation wasn’t pristine. Yet, he was drawn to Olivia more and more. When they find that each can help the other with a need, they strike a bargain – then they’ll go their separate ways. He’ll help her buy a house in her own name and she’ll get Mina into the school he wants her to attend. However – parting doesn’t come as easily as they thought.
I’m interested to see what happens next with the series. We’ve had one book I’ve loved and one I was just okay with, so now we’ll have to see what the next book brings. I’m not sure who will be featured in the next book, but I hope there is some excitement in it. This story hinted at a possible story at a later date between Mina and Hugh – right now Mina is fifteen and Hugh is probably seventeen or so. So, maybe the next book will feature Percy, Olivia’s dead/resurrected husband AND maybe we’ll see Olivia’s wicked uncle (from the first book) finally get some punishment.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
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Strong female characters throughout the story have their own fears. I liked both the primary male and female characters being fallible, fearful and uncertain as they try to control their future. I wish we could have had more on Mina at the end.
Definite plot twists here and there – great book!
great story, loved it
I really enjoyed this one!
Good story, not steamy at all!
So many times while listening to the audio companion I found myself smiling at the charming characters and their reactions to the world around them. The gentle story telling is balanced by the few explicit scenes.
I have no idea if there were typos, but the audio companion was well delivered, if a little overly posh in it’s pronunciation (e.g. father = fawther).