Tempted by a Rogue by Lauren Smith – Review & Giveaway

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The rogue’s temptation would be her undoing…

Gemma Haverford knows exactly who she will marry: James Randolph, the man she’s had a secret understanding with for the last eleven years. With every letter written between them while he’s been off at sea, their love has grown. Now they will be reunited with his return to England.

There’s just one problem. The man whose words she’d fallen in love with isn’t James at all…

Jasper Holland, a gentleman rogue of the first order, is trapped. Talked into a scheme by his best friend, he pretended to be James for eleven years as he wrote to Gemma, even though he’d promised James he’d break it off. But now with his return to England, his secret will come out—and he’ll lose the one woman he can’t live without.

What began as a game of words, now becomes a game of hearts, and Jasper will pay any price to call Gemma his.

 

 

 

REVIEW

4 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Tempted by a Rogue by Lauren Smith is a quick (less that 100 pages) historical romance that reminds us there are times when a wrong certainly can make a right.  WINK

Gemma Haverford has been waiting for her true love to return from a career at sea so they can start there life together.  Through 11 years of exchanging letters full of hope, honour and love she is ready to get married to the man she has treasured for so long.

Jasper Holland is NOT the man that Gemma is expecting to be reunited with in the secret gardens.  Having a blindfold on fires all the senses though and a smoking hot moment seals Gemma’s heart.  The only problem is, she believes these stolen caresses are from Jasper’s best friend James.  

James wrote to Gemma for the first year apart but decided a life as a rogue was much more satisfying than settling down with one woman.  Jasper takes over the correspondence (pretending to be James) and before he knows it, he is in so deep and completely captivated by this amazing woman.  All Jasper has to do now, if watch his beloved get duped by his best friend and then sweep her off her feet and convince her that he is the man she wants.  

At a welcome home party all begins to fall in place .. and when temper flares and passion awakens, Gemma and Jasper are both in for a turbulent journey full of yummy encounters, verbal jabs and truth that sets them both free.

Before I get into my personal thoughts on this book, I just wanted to share something that I have trouble with when reviewing short reads.  I have read many reviews (for books that are 100 pages or less and I am speaking generally here not about this book) complaining that the story is too short.  Well I tend to get annoyed with that comment because the author doesn’t hide how short the story is and purposely designs it to be a quick read.  So what happens when you are left at the end of a short read feeling like something is missing??  How do you critique without the comment “that was too short and I wanted more!”?  It’s tough!

I did feel like something was missing here and I do believe it was the escalation of tension between our two leads.  I love the build up, the verbal back and forth, the scheming, the passion driven stolen moments and the inevitable happily ever after, but there was just not enough time for me to cherish all of this.  That being said, Lauren Smith can stuff a whole lot of story in a small amount of pages.  I was absolutely smitten with Jasper and I loved that Gemma didn’t hold back where he was concerned.  II also thought James was a jackass and didn’t deserve Gemma.

I have to say it was the not so sweet old lady that stole this book for me.  I love it when crusty personalities cut to the quick and tell it like it is … LOL  This was a great book, and I adore Lauren’s writing style.  I look forward to reading more from her soon!

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Reviewed by Rachel

Copy provided by Author

Lauren Smith is an attorney by day, author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who lives with her three pets: a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat and dapper little schnauzer. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including being an Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.

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Lauren is graciously offering an e-copy of the winner’s choice of her books to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

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8. Giveaway open Internationally

9. Giveaway runs from September 22 – September 25, 2015