A handsome earl and a beautiful seamstress are looking for answers. Both are willing to do what it takes to get them—even if it requires a little seduction.
Whether mending a ripped corset or constructing velvet pantalets, Sophie Darshaw is skilled with a sewing needle and in high demand at Madame Eudora's brothel. But dreams of a better life lead Sophie to take a position as a maid for one of the Madame's clients. Sophie thinks she can handle working for the lecherous Mr. Fitzgelder—yet her new master's machinations prove dangerous.
After the Earl of Lindley's search for the double agent who killed his family keeps leading him to Miss Darshaw, he begins to suspect she's somehow connected to the plot. Bedding her seems like the best way to get some answers. But Sophie learned a few things from the girls at Madame Eudora's, and she's ready to put them to use.
Susan Gee Heino began her writing career in the theatre. After several years of poverty and obscurity, her love of the English Regency time period led her to writing historical romance. In 2008 she won Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award (R) for Best Regency Historical and has become a national bestseller. Today she resides in rural Ohio with a menagerie of pets, her minister husband, and two frighteningly creative children. She loves to hear from readers!
Temptress in Training by Susan Gee Heino Historical Romance - July 5th, 2011 4 Stars
Temptress in Training is the story of Sophia Darshaw. Sophia is a seamstress in a brothel. She is attempting to improve her lot in life when she takes a position in Mr. Fitzgelder's house as a maid. Unfortunately, there are many perils working there due to Mr. Fitzgelder's lecherous nature. After one dangerous encounter with Mr. Fitzgerald Sophia is saved by Lord Lindley.
But Lord Lindley has his own reasons for being friends with Mr. Fitzgerald and develops increasing suspicions about Sophia and her motives for being there. Lord Lindley wants nothing more than to find the people responsible for killing his family. As he gets closer to finding the truth he becomes more and more convinced that Sophia is deeply involved. As Sophia and Lindley become more intimately involved with each other they must decide what is worth the most to them.
I thought this was a very fun and exciting story with lots of interesting twists and turns. Sophia and Lindley were fun to read as they developed from being suspicious of each other to learning to count on each other. This story also had lots of different and interesting characters that you will want to read more about.
Overall I thought this was a great novel with an exciting and interesting story with characters that were complex and compelling to read.
Temptress in Training by Susan Gee Heino Historical Romance - July 5th, 2011 4 Stars
Temptress in Training is the story of Sophia Darshaw. Sophia is a seamstress in a brothel. She is attempting to improve her lot in life when she takes a position in Mr. Fitzgelder's house as a maid. Unfortunately, there are many perils working there due to Mr. Fitzgelder's lecherous nature. After one dangerous encounter with Mr. Fitzgerald Sophia is saved by Lord Lindley.
But Lord Lindley has his own reasons for being friends with Mr. Fitzgerald and develops increasing suspicions about Sophia and her motives for being there. Lord Lindley wants nothing more than to find the people responsible for killing his family. As he gets closer to finding the truth he becomes more and more convinced that Sophia is deeply involved. As Sophia and Lindley become more intimately involved with each other they must decide what is worth the most to them.
I thought this was a very fun and exciting story with lots of interesting twists and turns. Sophia and Lindley were fun to read as they developed from being suspicious of each other to learning to count on each other. This story also had lots of different and interesting characters that you will want to read more about.
Overall I thought this was a great novel with an exciting and interesting story with characters that were complex and compelling to read.
The previous book, Damsel in Disguise, told relatively the same tale but different angle. In this story, it's from Sophie and Richard's perspective. I enjoyed this story the most as the previous two novels set the ground work and you get to enjoy the ride and see what was missing from the other novel. I loved the story layering that was done. Despite parts of the story was a retelling of the other novel, it was still enjoyable and had its own elements added to the mix.
There are definitely Shakespearean devices used in the story development and the author even makes blatant nods to them. I really got a kick out of it. This is my favorite story in the series and characters as well. I'm sorry to see it end.
This is marketed as a Regency romance but it's fairly dark, heading into suspense and danger.
Sophie Darshaw doesn't have much of a life. She's working as a seamstress in a brothel. She hopes for improvement by taking a job as a maid at a lecher's house, but that's not working out either. Then she runs into the Earl of Lindley. He's been assigned to track down a spy and Sophie keeps showing up on his radar.
Sophie's past unravels like an onion, layer after layer, betrayal after betrayal. Lindley starts out as a reluctant hero but rises to the occasion.