"Wonderful Emotional Historical"

In London in 1867, Simon Belleville is somewhat of an enigma, a truly self-made man, and no one acquainted with him would guess at his auspicious origins. Only in his mid- thirties, he gained his fortune through hard work and clever investments, a far cry from his poverty-stricken childhood.

Heading up Her Majesty's Morality and Vice Commission, he leads a raid on Madame LeBow's brothel, where he discovers an abused woman in the attic. Feeling compassion for the slight young girl, Christine Tremayne, he takes her into his home. As the compassion turns to attraction, Simon begs his friend Margot to take Christine into her school for young ladies, as she may be a hindrance to his political career.

But as the months pass at the girls' school, and Christine, the dairymaid, has a slow metamorphosis into Christine, the lady, she gains the attraction of a suitor who does not see her as marriage material. Posing as his cousin, Christine journeys with Simon to his country estate where he assumes the role of tutor. As his political aspirations war with his thawing heart, Simon must make some life altering decisions with regards to his feelings for Christine.

Ms. Tarr's credible historical research lends an air of believability to this read thereby making the characters come to life. Steering away from the formulaic "rake" of a hero, this author has shown her hero with a very different, vulnerable side, that he has hidden to the world. For a love story as magical as it is moving, Ms. Tarr's latest is hopefully, a portent of her novels to come.

Reviewed by Sheri Melnick
Posted September 23, 2002

Summary

"My Fair Lady" meets "Pretty Woman" in Hope Tarr's Tempting

Simon Belleville should have taken the poor prostitute straight to Newgate Gaol. As the head of Her Majesty's Morality and Vice Commission, he's supposed to be closing down brothels--not consorting with the "ladies" who work in them. But one glimpse of Christine Tremayne's sweet, innocent face, and he is enraptured. Instead of locking her up in a gaol cell, he enrolls her in finishing school--hoping against hope that he will be able to put her out of his mind. Now that he has a chance to win a seat in Parliament, the last thing he wants is a scandal. But the lovely Christine proves to be a woman unlike any other--charming and intelligent, deeply mysterious and deliciously witty. And Simon has never been so intrigued-- or so tempted...