Don't Tempt Me

June 15, 2009
Kidnapped as a preteen while on a trip to Egypt, Zoe Octavia Lexham escapes after 12 years in a harem and returns to her family only to confront social censure. It is childhood friend Lucien de Grey, Duke of Marchmont, who comes to her aid. Always a hoyden, the now sensually trained but still virgin Zoe is a seductive force to be reckoned with, and while Lucien feels honor-bound to take her under his wing, he soon becomes as captivated with her behavior as he is annoyed. VERDICT Chase ("Your Scandalous Ways") has created another unconventional, thoroughly delightful heroine, provided her with a hero worthy of the title, and added enough scandal and outrageous fun to keep the pages turning. A longtime and well-deserved favorite of historical romance fans, Chase lives in Worchester, MA.

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from July 1, 2009
Lucien de Grey, the Duke of Marchmont, is certain the lady is an impostor. After all, more than a dozen women over the last decade have turned up in London claiming to be Zoe Octavia Lexham, the long-lost daughter of Lord Lexham. When Lucien arrives at Lexhams townhouse to denounce the fraud, though, he discovers he is wrong; the woman really is Zoe. Twelve years after being taken captive by an Egyptian pasha, Zoe finally escapes and finds her way home; but now that she is reunited with her family, Zoe discovers that almost everyone (especially her four sisters) want nothing to do with her scandal-tainted self. To pay back an old debt he owes her father, Lucien offers to use his superior standing among theton to relaunch Zoe into society and find her a husband, never suspecting that he may want to fill that role himself. Two refreshingly original, superbly matched characters clash with splendidly sexy results in the always inventive Chases latest deliciously witty and satisfying romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)