I hadn't realized when I started Bound by Temptation that I had read a previous book in this series. Part of the reason is that the hero in this novel was an almost-villain in the previous one, a man who married his sister off to an old man in order to save the family fortune. Bound by Temptation cleverly develops the relationship between Clara, Countess of Westington, and Jonathan Masters, a man who has always strived for respect. Clara has a reputation as a wild widow and Jonathan is the height of respectability, but when they meet unexpectedly, they
know that there is something between them.
What
works so well in this book is how Jonathan is shown with all his faults but also as an appealing person. Clara herself is no saint, yet her love for her stepson and her care for others around her
shines through. When Clara decides to help Jonathan find a wife, she doesn't
fully understand what she's getting into. She needs to keep herself away from scandal because of the forthcoming marriage of her son,
but somehow scandal finds her.
Although Bound by Temptation doesn't really have a deep plot, I enjoyed the interaction between various characters. It probably helps to have read a previous book
featuring these characters as their interwoven histories are revealed quite slowly.
Although historical accuracy is a bit variable, particularly with regard to dialogue, the central story - two flawed characters finding something in each other -
is a heartwarming one.