A second-chances, reunion romance from a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author:When a new heir inherits the castle, poor relation Miss Rebecca Bond must wed immediately or be out on her ear. The only man she ever loved is summoned to hear the will—but their past ended so badly that they haven’t spoken in years. Yet who better than a heartless rake to teach her how to snare a gentleman … heartless rake to teach her how to snare a gentleman who appreciates her charms?
Daniel Godwin, Lord Stonebury, regrets nothing more than losing the one woman who treated him like a man, not a title. Fate has given him the perfect pretext to win her trust—even if it means watching her wed someone else. But now that she’s back in his life, he’ll do anything to convince her to choose him instead…
Gothic Love Stories
- Too Wicked to Kiss
- Too Sinful to Deny
- Too Tempting to Resist
- Too Wanton to Wed
- Too Brazen to Bite
A prior edition was published as Romancing the Rogue.more
Very exciting well written read. She is on her way out of where she lives by the next heir. With nowhere to go she must learn how to catch a man to marry. But the one who comes to listen to the will is a man who agrees to teach her. He didn’t realize how good he had it with her years ago and let her go. I received a review copy and voluntarily review it.
TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST is the third book in the Gothic Love Stories series, formerly released as Romancing the Rogue. This is a stand-alone gothic novella with no tie to the previous two books in the series, but there is mention of at least one character from the Dukes of War series.
My heart went out to Rebecca – orphaned twice – by her parents and now by the old earl, her guardian these last five years. I wanted her to find friendship, companionship, and true love. Enter Daniel – a young man who has allowed title and family to come between them before – will he make the same mistakes again? Add in a few ghosts in the castle and it was totally my cup of tea!
I loved that in this story both of our main characters have been shown to mature and learn from their pasts. They each long for the other, but are reluctant to dive in too quickly. They each have a fear of rejection that must be laid to rest. Ms. Ridley does a wonderful job of building their past and their present to allow them to regain the trust that is needed to bring them to where they both always wanted to be.
This was a feel happy story that had me smiling for hours after I closed my Kindle.
Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: TOO TEMPTING TO RESIST
Series: Gothic Love Stories #3
Category /Genre: Historic Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing: received as an unedited ARC
Received from: Erica Ridley
Too Tempting to Resist is a second chance romance, more in keeping with Erica Ridley’s usual style of writing so I’m unsure why it’s been included as part of the Gothic Love Stories series. There wasn’t the suspense/mystery event I’ve come to expect with this series so even though I enjoyed this book I can’t help but feeling a little disappointed overall with the storyline.
Miss Rebecca Bond has been content living in quiet anonymity in the [supposedly haunted] castle of her great uncle, an earl, but when he dies, she’s left with few options. As a poor relation Rebecca is wholly dependent on the new earl’s whims and he determines she must wed immediately or be turned out completely. When the only man she’s ever loved arrives for the reading of the will, Rebecca decides he’s her best option to teach her how to find a gentleman to marry, despite the fact that their last meeting was a disaster and they haven’t spoken in the years since.
Daniel Godwin, Viscount Stoneberry, has always regretted the loss of Rebecca, his one true friend who saw him for himself and not his title. Now that he has a second chance, he will do all he can to win her trust, even guide her into another’s arms, though he’ll do his best to see she picks him instead.
This was a quick, sweet second chance story about learning where your priorities lie and I enjoyed it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For a quick read, it was truly enjoyable. I loved the story of two people who felt they had unrequited love for the other. The characters were few but very rich in personality. They were very moving, full of emotion, fear, insecure feelings, feeling trapped, hopeless, pain but also secret hope. For a short story it has all the elements needed for a satisfying read. You will not feel shortchanged. I do recommend it.
Too Tempting to Resist is a revamped version of Ms. Ridley’s Romancing the Rogue which I read and reviewed last year. The castle’s name has changed in this revamped version to Crowmere. The main characters have remained the same though Daniel is now Lord Stonebury. I found this to be a sweet and lovely novella by Erica with endearing characters. Daniel and Rebecca had been good friends years ago but when he became Viscount North Barrows at age 17, he undertook family and societal responsibilities and ignored Rebecca from then on. Years later they meet again when Daniel comes to Crowmere for the reading of the will of Rebecca’s uncle. The new earl wants Rebecca to wed and leave the castle. Daniel apologizes and asks Rebecca’s forgiveness for how he treated her years ago and agrees to help her find a suitable man to marry, even though there is still chemistry between the two. Daniel’s life is in London and Rebecca’s is in the country so can they resolve the divide? Ms. Ridley has done a very good job drawing a reader into this story and feeling the emotions going on between the characters. It had a good plot and was an entertaining, satisfying read. I was given an ARC of this revamped version. All opinions stated in this review are voluntary and my own.
Miss Rebecca Bond is a young lady that has had a lot of sorrow in her 22 years. Her childhood friend and first and only love hurt her very badly at her coming out. He didn’t want to disappoint his grandmother and ends up losing the only
person who loved him for himself. She has also lost both her parents, in a accident. Her Great Uncle, The Earl of Banfield gave her a place to live at Crowmere Castle. But he is elderly and in poor health, and doesn’t even remember she is there. Very few in the castle seems to know she is living there. As the Castle is known to be haunted what ever she does to help out, keeping the books, doing things for cook, or some of maids is just thought to be one of the ghost. When the Uncle dies, she must make herself known to the new Earl who is shocked to find he is responsible for other young lady. He has five daughter and a wife !!!! He tells her he will give her one month to find a husband and leave, he will also give her a dowry to make it easier. Poor Rebecca doesn’t want a husband, or to rejoin society. She just wants a quiet life by herself in the country she loves.
Daniel Goodenham, Lord Stonebury is the cad who broke Rebecca heart and lost her friendship. When he receives notice of the Uncle’s death and that he needs to be at the Castle for the will. He decides to get there early and try to patch things up with Rebecca. He has always felt bad for the way he treated her cause he was afraid of his nasty Grandmother. He shows up hoping to prove to her that he is her friend and maybe more. Unknown to him Rebecca has
decided he will be the one to help her find a husband which will help make up for the past.
How all this comes out and who wins and who doesn’t is fun fast read. Lots of twists and turns, heartache, some laughs too. For a short story it was a good read. It has a great pace for a short story.
I received and ARC from the author, and am giving my honest opinion.
Grub a copy and a cup of coffee and enjoy….
I received a free copy of this revised and re-titled version of Romancing the Rogue, which I read as part of the anthology Vexed (The Haunting of Castle Keyvnor Book 1) and have now read again. Poor, forgotten Miss Rebecca Bond faces an insecure future upon the death of her benefactor, and now she must face her childhood friend Daniel Godwin, who had so cruelly slighted her years ago. This is an engaging story with some humor – one of my favorite smirk-worthy scenes (although somewhat foreseeable) is wherein she and Daniel play billiards.
Wonderful story of Rebecca, a poor orphan very low in the ton and Daniel, a rake of a viscount who gave her the cut direct years ago. There are no real surprises here—just romance for a lovely afternoon read. Well done!
I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Too Tempting to Resist is the third book in the Gothic Love Series. This has been an interesting gothic series and this book is a great addition. Rebecca Bond has been forgotten while living at Crowmere Castle, but things are about to change once Lord Banfield, an extended family member, passes away. The new Lord Banfield has given her a choice, either find her own husband and marry before the start of the season or he will find her a husband. Rebecca had an unsuccessful season before her parents passed. She loved living in Cornwall and didn’t want a husband from London. She knew Daniel Godwin, Lord Stonebury, from childhood but during her season he had ignored her. Rebecca knew he would be arriving for the reading of the will and who better to teach her how to captivate a man than a rogue like him? Can they overcome their hurts of the past and fears of the future to have a HEA? This was a fun, light gothic book that was well written. I loved the characters and it had a great plot line.
FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!!!
Freaking awesome! One chaotic ride with a bounty of swirling emotions bursting into play front and center. An impressive storyline and engaging plot launches baby through surprising twists and turns blowing this bad boy wide open. Ruffled pasts set the pace for this awesome thrill ride with skillful dynamics that catapult this baby to life flawlessly. Scenes, characters, locations and such colorful details, written with such realism there’s no problem interpretating each scenario as they play out propelling this baby to life beautifully. Their personalities are well matched as revelations are revealed in all their splendid wonder. Fantastic job Erica, thanks for sharing this gem with us.
Really enjoyable second chance at love story. This one is not as dark or spooky as the other books in the series, but still as entrancing. Rebecca is caring, intelligent and a bit quirky, but also very alone. She worms her way into the reader’s heart as if she’d always been there. I had a harder time warming up to Daniel. He’s also quite lonely, but he had more of a hand in his own unhappiness. He is more ruled by fear, which is not the best motivator, even if it does make him very human. He learns from his mistakes and I loved how he gives Rebecca options, the more so because they don’t all include him. He leaves her free to choose her path to happiness. So he cleans up very well, in true romance hero style.
Crowmere Castle, England 1811
A story of a young lady who had been left on her own for so long, she truly did not want to get back into society. Having lived with her great uncle for years after the death of her parents, Rebecca had managed to almost “disappear” and even keep his books and stay secluded. But when her great uncle died and left her nothing, the new Earl wanted to marry her off.
Daniel, Lord Stanbury, had know Rebecca years ago when he had spent time at Crowmere Castle and they had become friends. But he knew he had hurt her badly and had not forgiven his grandmother for her part. But he received a summons back to hear the reading of the will and was determined to show Rebecca that he was a different person than back then. Because he had not forgotten her through the years.
When they meet again as he comes to hear the will, she truly gives him the cold shoulder, although she needs his help to ensnare a husband since she is losing her home. What? Well he desires her coldness due to how he had treated her and he would help.
Loved these two characters! Their interactions and feelings for each other that simmered under the surface. A sweet, special romance that will make you believe in the power of love!
Simply beautiful – this short story was everything I want in a second chance romance. It was hard to read when Daniel was struggling with doing what he thought was the right thing. And I loved Rebecca; she could have let life beat her down but she found little things to keep her (somewhat) happy.
Even though this was a short story it didn’t seemed rush and it’s pacing was perfect every step of the way.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
Erica is very good at creating stories about strong willed people and seemingly impossible love. Rebecca Bond is a shadow, a shy quiet poor relation who lives at Crowmere Castle because she has nowhere else to go. The new Earl will not allow her to stay. She is given the choice to find a husband or he will find one for her. Daniel Goodenham, Lord North Barrows, who rejected and hurt Rebecca years ago, has been summoned to the castle for the reading of the old Earl’s will. He wants to tell Rebecca how sorry he is that he hurt her. She knows he is a rake, so she asks him to teach her to flirt so she can win a husband. Daniel agrees, reluctantly. What he really wants is to find a way for them to be together. This is a sweet story about two people who want very much to be together. Perhaps if they quit dwelling on the reasons they shouldn’t be together (lack of confidence on her part and too much attention paid to a shrewish overbearing grandmother on his), things might just work out for them. Quick read. Nice plot. Strong willed people. Seemingly impossible love. Can it all come together for a happily ever after? Enjoy finding the answer.
What an incredible story of second chances!!!! Rebecca and Daniel’s story will captivate you from beginning to end.
Cute
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: Gothic Love Stories
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC.
This was a surprisingly sweet story for the gothic setting. Rebecca is the forgotten orphan who’s been living on the charity of her elderly relative. When he dies, her world is turned upside down. The reading of the will brings her childhood sweetheart, the man who broke her heart and crushed her young dreams, back into her orbit. Daniel was young and stupid, and now badly regrets the way he treated Rebecca. This beautiful second chance brings these two lost souls back together for another chance at a once-in-a-lifetime love.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
This book is a short Love story by the talented Erica Ridley. Rebecca needs a husband and she turns to Daniel, who she cared for before he broke her heart to help her learn how to catch a husband. This book is very interesting and it was a nice, enjoyable morning read.
Can a rake beg forgiveness for the pain he caused to his childhood friend and help her secure a groom.
I really loved this one book, I find all that is Mrs Erica Ridley touch here.
Despite the shortness of this story, the author brought her main characters to life, their flaws, talents and past shaped them in very fleshy paper heroes.
In their year apart, Rebecca improved herself, by drowning out her loneliness with plenty of tasks, she taught herself and moved in whole new woman.
She is clever, resourceful and very witty.
Her dialogues with Daniel clashed like a tennis game with her carrying the play.
Daniel has years of regrets behind him, when Rebecca had to forge a new path for herself, he merely had just to follow the road already all mapped out for him.
So when an opportunity arisen, he decided it was time he makes amends.
But Rebecca is no more the young girl he left behind, she is a woman now, able to speak for herself and whom won’t bent because he is male and nobility.
A 5 stars for this short pages turn great tale.
I was granted an advance copy by the author, I also previously preordered my own copy.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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