Grade: B+
Setting: Contemporary
Sensuality: NC-17
Plot: Written in the first person, Anne is the narrator. She and her husband, James, seem to have a steady and smooth marriage. Then James invites his BFF, Alex, to stay with them for the summer. Soon, they are embarking on a menage and Anne finds out more than she bargained for about James, her marriage, and herself.
Pages: 416
Long Ramblings: Notice that I didnt pinpoint this book in one word as I usually do? That’s because Tempted is one of those books that just can’t. It has the label “An Erotic Novel” on the cover but I would just call it ‘fiction with a strong erotic content’. It is certainly not a romance or romantica for the ending is very bittersweet. I wouldn’t even call it erotica because I dont think the sex scenes are as much titillating as they are organic to the story.
What it is tho is a well-written book with a raw honesty that packs a wallop. When I write well-written, I dont mean it as in Hart is a great stylist. She isnt. Rather, she is a very good storyteller who writes with brutal purpose. Real life is messy and beautiful, an implacable tide that ebbs and flows. That’s what Hart shows in her novel.
As I try to do with most new-to-me authors, this book was read cold. I kept on bumping into Hart’s name while surfing the blogosphere and saw that she got good ratings without looking into the particulars of the reviews. All the subliminal advertising worked because I put in a request for any of Hart’s last three novels at Paperbackswap.com (use “seton” as a reference if you havent signed up yet) and Tempted was the first one that was available to me. This turned out to be a good deal since this is a trade paperback retailing for $13.95. I am grateful that I read it if for no reason than that it got me out of the reading doldrums. I admired it; I didn’t love it. I doubt that I will be reading more Hart in the future because ultimately she wasn’t my cuppa.
I always joke that I stopped watching soap operas a long time ago because nothing I see on the tube could top the melodrama in my own life. Altho the principal triangle is the focus of Tempted, I would say that as much as 40% of the book is devoted to describing the details of Anne’s f*cked-up family. This part kinda bored me because it sorta mirrored what was going on in my own family. That’s why ultimately I seek out escapist fantasy movies and books. I dont want realistic. I have the news for that. Instead, I seek that alternative world where Love Conquers All and everything is neatly tied in a HEA. Yep, I admit that I’m that much a big baby — waaaaa — and that is my preferred formula of choice.
Oooo Seton, I feel for you on the escapism. I recently read a book that closely mirrored how my relationship with Richard ended, but there were enough differences that made me want to chuck the book against the wall. I hated it. I don’t want to read my story. I want to read the other ones. The ones that leave me glowing inside. Why doesn’t the majority realize that? Anyhoo, the premise for this story sounds interesting, but I don’t think I’ll be picking up this book. Can’t say it’s really my thing to read. Have you read The Spymaster’s Lady yet? For some reason, I’m doubting it….
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I finally gave in and added TSL to Mount TBR last week.
I have about 5 books to read in front of it but I hope to get to it within the next 3 weeks.
- seton
Don’t most of Megan’s heroines have some dark issues? I haven’t had the chance to read any of her books yet.
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Oh, I am sure you are right about that. I also heard that one of the earlier books, either BROKEN or DIRTY, was also more of a romance than TEMPTED. TEMPTED definitely wasn’t a ro-mance. I did admire it tho, as I wrote above.
- seton
I haven’t read any of her books yet either… but I keep finger f@#$%ing them when I’m at the bookstore…
I hate bittersweet… I’d have to want to be depressed to read it. But the good grade from you makes me want to read it…
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fussy about the condition of your books, I would mail you my copy.
Yeah, I have to be in a certain mood to read Bittersweet and I definitely need advance warning too. I do think Hart is definitely a worthwhile read because she is different from most others in the erotic/romantica genre. If I didnt know that you are
anal- seton
Teehee… yes very … er … fussy…
If I were to buy one of her books (to test out her stuff) which one sticks out more?
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I think BROKEN has a more interesting premise but characters in DIRTY show up later in BROKEN if you are a stickler for reading in order.
- seton
Ohhh. Interesting. I like dark and broody—especially in erotica. I’m going to have to give this author a try. Not a big fan of family melodrama in books… rather have it be more on the romace, etc. If I wanted to read f**ked up, I just write down what happened last year to me and read it. No thanks. I want my fantasy. *g*
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Yes! Escapist romance = Good. I also heard that there is someone who is going to fill that much needed market for contemp romantic comedy.
- seton
LOL. Where do you want your check sent?
I’ll let you read it (the contemp romantic comedy) if you want… but be forewarned, it is very light… and total escapist.
Meant to write: If you want to read TACOM, let me know. Sigh. Stupid typing fingers.