Christiana is a newspaper reporter in the late 1800’s, at a time when women didn’t have careers, least of all careers putting them in so much danger. Tyman is the man hired by her wealthy father to guide her through the rainforests of Washington State and back hope, Along the way, she’s supposed to fall in love with Asher Prescott, a man of her own class who is after her father’s money.
Well, of course, she’s going to fall for the handsome Tyman. Who wouldn’t? He’s dark, handsome, capable, and he has secrets. If nothing else, the reporter in her wants to uncover those secrets. Her observation skills are put to the test early on, when she notices things about him that make her believe — correctly — that he was in prison. Her father paid to get him out, and will give him his full pardon if he returns Christiana unmolested.
Christian believes in Tyman almost from the start, and quickly falls in love with him. When they pass through the town where Tyman had been accused of murder, she stands up for him, and even pretends an engagement with him. She’s at a picnic, defending him to a group of women, when she hears a gunshot, and a man who had been bullying Tyman is shot in the shoulder.
And this is where the book lost me. Christiana stalks off without getting any details, without learning any facts, and without looking back at Tyman, who she assumes is guilty of SOMETHING. He embarrassed her in front of the town, after she’d defended him.
The problem with all of that isn’t that it made me dislike her, although it might have if I had believed it. The bigger problem is just that — the Chrsitiana introduced to me prior to chapter 10 (which is when this happened) wouldn’t have done that. She’s a reporter, for goodness sakes! She should at least want to know exactly what happened.
After that, it was hard to stay with the book, because everything that came after pivoted on Christiana’s unconvincing judgment and betrayal. I mean, the rest was fine. She did some reporting, got herself in trouble, struggled to win a man who didn’t think he was worthy of her…it was fine. Everything before and after that moment was good, but this is an example of how, sometimes, one moment can break a book.
If you like Jude Deveraux, and/or historical romances, and can get over moments of disbelief, this may be for you.
Rating: 3/5
Title: The Temptress
Author: Jude Deveraux
ISBN: 0671743848
Published in 1996