The Temptation of Your Touch

February 15, 2013

Forced by scandal to leave his reckless London life, Maximillian Burke, Earl of Dravenwood, heads for the wilds of Cornwall to see to the management of Cadgwyck Manor, one of his family's recent acquisitions. However, instead of finding a peaceful, remote retreat, he is greeted by a neglected, unkempt mansion; inedible food; a ragtag staff; and Anne Spencer, his prim, businesslike housekeeper. The estate has been plagued by tragedy, is feared by the townsfolk, and is haunted by the ghost of Angelica Cadgwyck, the elusive White Lady. Naturally, things aren't at all what they seem and secrets abound--secrets that Max knows he must uncover but ones Anne is determined to conceal. VERDICT A pair of deeply wounded protagonists who must learn to forgive themselves, a charming group of secondary characters, and a complex, well-crafted plot result in a tale that is beautifully linked to the author's The Pleasure of Your Kiss. With deliciously Gothic touches, this novel is another winner for the talented, Kentucky-based Medeiros.

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