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A review by loverofromance
A Tempest of Desire: A Novel by Lorraine Heath
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: ποΈποΈποΈ
World Building:ππππ
Cover:πππππ
Hero: π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»
Heroine:π¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈ
Intimacy Level: π₯π₯π₯
Relationship Building: πππ
Heart & Feels:πππ
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: ππππ
Page Turner Level:πππ
Narration:π§π§π§
Ending:π§§π§§π§§π§§π§§
Overall View: β¨β¨β¨.5
First Impressions
A Temptest of Desire is a continuation of a previous series and it was so fun to get back to this family and world. This is a cozy historical romance, with tones of caretaking, class difference and slow building yearning. It also has some unique notes of a sex worker and seeing some emotional trauma being handled in this story. This is a pretty slow paced story though so it might not work for everyone and I would have wished for a bit more swoon and engaging quality to the story.
First Line
while the howling wind tore around him and the rain lashed at his upturned face, he staggered to the edge of the cliff, braced himself against nature's wrath, and hurled the empty whisky bottle into the blackened abyss that contained monstrous waves thrashing against the rocky, sandy shore.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Viscount Langdon
The Heroine:Marlowe
Summary
A Temptest of Desire begins with our hero, Viscount Langdon, on a private island that his family owns, trying to overcome some emotional trauma in his past when strolling the coast, he finds a young woman that has washed up on his beach, and its an infamous courtesan who once was a woman he wanted but was unable to have, but to him was a true queen. Marlowe in some bad circumstances had to make some difficult decisions, and created her own life as a infamous courtesan, who is bold and daring. She knows who she is and is determined to maintain what she has built until she is rescued by a Viscount who is forbidden fruit to her. Through their isolation, they are able to build a connection to each other, but when real life gets in the way, Marlowe will have to decide if she is willing to dare the Ton and society scandal to be with the man who holds her heart...
What I Loved
A Temptest of Desire was such a cozy relaxing read. Its a story you can sit in your favorite reading chair and just relax into. Its not going to be super thrilling or engaging, so keep that in mind. I do think you will enjoy this book more physically reading it over the audio version of it, but that is just my personal recommendation of it. I found this story be endearing in the small quiet moments that these two have together. Although my favorite moments is the second half of the story. I loved the elemtn of the air balloon as you don't see that too often in historicals. But I found the heroine so refreshing. I don't get a chance to read a mistress/courtesan heroine too often, but I also love it when it happens. I found the way that the conflict is resolved to be so fascinating and the interactions that she has with his family was solid. I loved what we get to the characters from the series and definitely had its intriguing tones of delight, cozy intimacy and romantic moments that is very Lorraine Heath style.
What I Struggled With
Look I love Lorraine Heath, but like many historical romance authors, her stories aren't the most exciting anymore. Its kinda boring. Now I think part of my problem is I read part of this book in audio and I think the audio just wasn't good. Most newer historicals I can struggle with in audio, and I think part of the reason this isn't a higher rating is the audio made it feel so slow and I just couldn't feel the connection between these two. And don't read this book when you are tired, you want to make sure you have energy to withstand the slower writing pace. I was kinda disappointed the hero's past wasn't more focused on to be honest. It didn't have the emotional impact that I was expecting from it.
Narration
It's alright. Its not bad or anything, you just have to bad able to focus on the story and have it at a slower speed or it will easily take you out of the story.
Overall View
A Temptest of Desire is a endearing romance that bring in small moments of poignant emotion, cozy intimacy with a fun coastal setting and will bring together some forbidden elements to bring the right conflict to this pair to overcome.
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Romance, Victorian Era
Character Types: Tortured Hero, Viscount, Courtesan/Sex Worker
Themes: Coastal, Pining Hero, Class Difference
Tropes: Forbidden Love, Sex Worker with a Heart of Gold
Book Perspective
3rd POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Plot Conflict
If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Julie Ann Long
Julie London
Laura Lee Guhrke
Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone, but for character connections, read series in order.
Steam/Spice Explanations
Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
Narrators:
Will Watt
Book Evaluation:
Plot: ποΈποΈποΈ
World Building:ππππ
Cover:πππππ
Hero: π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»
Heroine:π¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈ
Intimacy Level: π₯π₯π₯
Relationship Building: πππ
Heart & Feels:πππ
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: ππππ
Page Turner Level:πππ
Narration:π§π§π§
Ending:π§§π§§π§§π§§π§§
Overall View: β¨β¨β¨.5
First Impressions
A Temptest of Desire is a continuation of a previous series and it was so fun to get back to this family and world. This is a cozy historical romance, with tones of caretaking, class difference and slow building yearning. It also has some unique notes of a sex worker and seeing some emotional trauma being handled in this story. This is a pretty slow paced story though so it might not work for everyone and I would have wished for a bit more swoon and engaging quality to the story.
First Line
while the howling wind tore around him and the rain lashed at his upturned face, he staggered to the edge of the cliff, braced himself against nature's wrath, and hurled the empty whisky bottle into the blackened abyss that contained monstrous waves thrashing against the rocky, sandy shore.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Viscount Langdon
The Heroine:Marlowe
Summary
A Temptest of Desire begins with our hero, Viscount Langdon, on a private island that his family owns, trying to overcome some emotional trauma in his past when strolling the coast, he finds a young woman that has washed up on his beach, and its an infamous courtesan who once was a woman he wanted but was unable to have, but to him was a true queen. Marlowe in some bad circumstances had to make some difficult decisions, and created her own life as a infamous courtesan, who is bold and daring. She knows who she is and is determined to maintain what she has built until she is rescued by a Viscount who is forbidden fruit to her. Through their isolation, they are able to build a connection to each other, but when real life gets in the way, Marlowe will have to decide if she is willing to dare the Ton and society scandal to be with the man who holds her heart...
What I Loved
A Temptest of Desire was such a cozy relaxing read. Its a story you can sit in your favorite reading chair and just relax into. Its not going to be super thrilling or engaging, so keep that in mind. I do think you will enjoy this book more physically reading it over the audio version of it, but that is just my personal recommendation of it. I found this story be endearing in the small quiet moments that these two have together. Although my favorite moments is the second half of the story. I loved the elemtn of the air balloon as you don't see that too often in historicals. But I found the heroine so refreshing. I don't get a chance to read a mistress/courtesan heroine too often, but I also love it when it happens. I found the way that the conflict is resolved to be so fascinating and the interactions that she has with his family was solid. I loved what we get to the characters from the series and definitely had its intriguing tones of delight, cozy intimacy and romantic moments that is very Lorraine Heath style.
What I Struggled With
Look I love Lorraine Heath, but like many historical romance authors, her stories aren't the most exciting anymore. Its kinda boring. Now I think part of my problem is I read part of this book in audio and I think the audio just wasn't good. Most newer historicals I can struggle with in audio, and I think part of the reason this isn't a higher rating is the audio made it feel so slow and I just couldn't feel the connection between these two. And don't read this book when you are tired, you want to make sure you have energy to withstand the slower writing pace. I was kinda disappointed the hero's past wasn't more focused on to be honest. It didn't have the emotional impact that I was expecting from it.
Narration
It's alright. Its not bad or anything, you just have to bad able to focus on the story and have it at a slower speed or it will easily take you out of the story.
Overall View
A Temptest of Desire is a endearing romance that bring in small moments of poignant emotion, cozy intimacy with a fun coastal setting and will bring together some forbidden elements to bring the right conflict to this pair to overcome.
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Romance, Victorian Era
Character Types: Tortured Hero, Viscount, Courtesan/Sex Worker
Themes: Coastal, Pining Hero, Class Difference
Tropes: Forbidden Love, Sex Worker with a Heart of Gold
Book Perspective
3rd POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Plot Conflict
If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Julie Ann Long
Julie London
Laura Lee Guhrke
Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone, but for character connections, read series in order.
Steam/Spice Explanations
Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
Narrators:
Will Watt