Master of Temptation

April 19, 2004
Jordan's newest Regency-era romance (after Ecstasy
) is appropriately set on the fictional Mediterranean island of Cyrene, which is headquarters to the clandestine Guardians of the Sword. Formed in the Dark Ages by legendary British warriors exiled to the island, the "secret society of protectors" now operates with input from Britain's Foreign Office. The first time war hero Max Leighton visits the island, he shares an intimate night with the enigmatic healer Caro Evers. Neither forgets that night, and when their paths cross again a year later—after Max agrees to help the Guardians rescue a kidnapped noblewoman—they pick up where they left off. Although Max is determined to win Caro's heart, she believes he wouldn't want her if he knew her secret: she's not only a healer but a well-trained Guardian. As the author illustrates time and again, however, Caro isn't immune to Max's charms, and the two fill the pages with love scenes to the point of redundancy. More compelling is their emotional relationship, which plays upon Caro's insecurities and Max's nightmares of war. Although the kidnapping subplot is merely a device to bring Max and Caro together, readers who prefer their romances more sexy than suspenseful and more fantastical than historically accurate will savor this sensual feast. Agent, Karen Solem of Spencerhill.

April 15, 2004
When Major Max Leighton arrives at Cyrene with one of his wounded men, Caro does everything she can to help but secretly yearns to tend to Max. Once he accepts Caro's invitation to indulge in one night of passion, he realizes that she relieves his great emotional pain. While in London, Max is haunted by memories of the bewitching Caro, so he gives in to temptation and returns to the mystical, magical isle only to discover that Caro is even more unusual than he imagined. Not only is she a gifted healer but Caro is also a member of a secret society dedicated to protecting justice, but if Max joins their latest dangerous mission, he risks losing her forever. The first in a new paranormal series, Jordan's latest has all the searing sensuality and lusciously detailed love scenes readers have come to expect from this romance author, who skillfully seduces readers' senses with her imaginative settings and her ability to blend passion and danger.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)