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Donovan Sisters #3

Pleasures of a Tempted Lady

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DANGEROUS DESIRECaptain William Langley knows the ocean well, but nothing could prepare him for what he discovers adrift on the cold Irish Sea. The tiny boat carries two a child--and Meg Donovan, Will's long-lost love. Meg's disappearance at sea eight years ago was a devastating blow. Now she's back, as beautiful as ever, and with secrets as deep as Will's own . . . After years held captive by a cold-blooded pirate, Meg has finally escaped with little Jake, the boy she's come to love as if he were her own. But the pirate wants his revenge--and Meg must do whatever it takes to shield Jake from the madman. Determined not to lose Meg again, Will vows to protect them both, yet Meg can't risk putting the only man she's ever loved in danger. With the threat to her safety growing, and her passion for Will burning brighter every day, surrendering herself to Will might be a pleasure too tempting to resist . . .

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

15 people are currently reading
492 people want to read

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Jennifer Haymore

39 books689 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
Profile Image for Emily.
5,866 reviews546 followers
March 6, 2017
Captain William Langley notices something while navigating his ship called the Freedom. When he finds an unconscious woman and a little boy ready to jump ship, he rescues them. Never in his wildest dream would he believe he would come across Meg Donovan who was believed to be dead.

Meg has been kept captive by a volatile pirate who was growing increasingly brutal, deciding she needed to run she takes Jake with her vowing to protect him as her own. How much can she reveal to William who has a different plan as to how to protect Meg. The two loved one another years ago, will they find that their love can withstand the time they spent apart?

The stor starts off with a bang and doesn't let up. Quickly paced, I thought the chemistry was immediate for William and Meg. An adventurous romance that you are anxious to see how it ends.

Profile Image for Mslvoe.
2,039 reviews196 followers
September 13, 2012
**I was eating when I read the moment William found Meg. This is so touching it brought a tear to my eyes.**

Why I love her Donovan's series

A must read for Jennifer Haymore fans.
Engaging and entertaining at the same time
You will not bored reading the series
The book stand alone
Her Donovan series make me relax, smile, cry and happy
Her story filled with emotion, twist, passion and humor

I loved a story about Jessica and her gentleman Mr. Briggs. Soooo cute! They are wonderful, funny and wicked. I wish Jessica have her own book and longer.

I was not disappointed. It was more than I expected it to be. Loved it!
Profile Image for Elena.
1,590 reviews
June 21, 2013
2.5*

This started off as a cute love story - I always love "Regency Romances"... There was some clever and witty dialogues and some very loveable characters (Jessica and Mr. Biggs). However, as the story went on, my feelings altered between "like it/dislike it/like it/dislike it" so I'm rating it a bit better than ok.

First of all, I could not grasp the severity of the major conflict in the story. Meg is kidnapped by a pirate and rescued by Will, yet she does not want to share the captor's name/ship description/anything with Will - the love of her life from her youth. I don't feel bad for her - I feel that she is being ungrateful. So this major conflict is just a nuisance for me, I can't take it seriously. Then she continues being completely counter productive the whole time and by refusing to accept help from her family she is the one who ends up putting them in even more danger, than if she had just listened to Will and the other men in the first place. Meg keeps repeating that she wants her "family to be safe" > well this pirate knows who you are and knows who your family is, either way (whether you accept their help or not) he will target your family first! Not to mention that her brothers in law are influential men (a duke, a count, etc...) and her lover is a captain. Why not help them catch this guy?! Why go at it alone when you have all these high society people on your side?! What she ended up doing endangered them all more because she got herself caught again and they had to set out and rescue her! If she just listened to her family, they would have protected her! So overall - heroine is trying to martyr herself for her selfish reasons!

Secondly, this was probably the biggest reason why I couldn't get into the book - I could not relate to the hero and even less the heroine! I could not get her logic 99% of the time. She uses this faulty logic to spite herself and others and get herself into more and more trouble! Her panic and terror towards her captor and the consequences the captivity left on her psyche are told constantly, but never shown. We can read countless sentences along the lines of: "He was the most cruel man she had ever met...She was afraid for her life...His son wouldn't survive without her to protect him, etc..." but only one or two examples are given (thrown at us as an afterthought towards the end) of what this man actually did and how he did it. So at the end of the book, for the first time, Meg mentions how she has constant nightmares from seeing the pirate kill a boy in front of his father and the reader pretty much feels nothing, because this information was written:
a) just the way i wrote it - in those words- passively telling not showing , and
b) given out of nowhere, at the end of the book! A little too late to be introducing me (especially so casually) to the trauma that the heroine was supposed to be dealing with throughout the book. I was supposed to be feeling her pain 300 pages ago, now i sort of don't care.

The chemistry between Will and Meg is practically nonexistent, even though there is a lot of telling about their boundless/endless love, but no showing!! Unlike the chemistry between Jessica and Mr. Biggs - they were amazing together!! I think that, even though secondary, their story was 10 times better written.

Another annoying thing was Meg's coldness towards her sisters. I understand the her twin was forced into stealing her identity and maybe she could have found another way but didn't - but why is this issue not confronted!? Why do the sisters never talk about this?! The story is just left with Meg being stand-offish the whole time with her sisters, excusing it with "8 years have passed, we don't know each other anymore - we are strangers" > well i didn't even see her try to change this much...

Finally, what bothered me the most was the name switch!! This would have been ok and a good conflict if it was resolved in the end! However,

Regardless - this was an ok read and for someone less picky it's definitely worth a shot!
I obtained this novel through the Goodreads Giveaway, so a big thanks goes to the author for giving me the chance to read this book and review it honestly.
Profile Image for Lover of Romance.
3,712 reviews1,123 followers
March 31, 2013
Will, is on a new mission, to find a pirate and a smuggler. On board his new ship, he heads to where he thinks he may be hiding. What he didn't expect to find was a woman and a child floating on a damaged boat, and none other than Meg Donovan. A Woman he thought was dead all these eight years, one he has only dreamed of seeing again. But she is not the woman he once knew, she has changed and so has he. Meg's life changed the moment she was thrown overboard into the sea eight years ago. She was kidnapped and held prisoner by a pirate, for eight long years and now she has been able to escape. When she see's Will again, she is overwhelmed with her past feelings for him. But when he proves to be just as caring and protective, she wonders if she can truly trust him with her secrets and the danger that follow her everywhere she goes...Pleasure's Of A Tempted Lady is the third in the Donovan Sisters series. I have to say that although I really enjoyed it, it certainly wasn't my favorite...and it was the one I was most looking forward to reading. I mean it had a strong plot, with witty interaction, and I really loved the mystery and intrigue that prevails in the story, and takes your breath away. However, the one thing I really didn't like is the lack of chemistry between Will and Meg. I mean it was there on the surface, but I really didn't feel it in the story. I felt reading through it, I felt like something was lacking in the love story. I also didn't really like Meg that much, I felt like she didn't treat Will very good, and was a bit spineless when it comes to love. She didn't exactly have the fighting spirit you see in the heroines in the others books written by this author. Even though there were some things I didn't like, it was still a very enjoyable read, and well written for the most part, and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys this author.
Profile Image for Tia.
827 reviews294 followers
May 27, 2022
Enjoyed all the characters! The pacing was great. The settings were vivid and the steamy was fire!

This had intrigue, romance, mystery, kidnapping and stolen identity. The Donovan sisters are fiercely loyal and tenacious. I loved books two and three so much that I bought the entire series on kindle. I'm excited to read the first in the trilogy, Confessions of an Improper Bride to understand what happened with the wild Serena.

I do recommend the series.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for the eARC via Netgalley
Profile Image for Stella.
482 reviews132 followers
August 21, 2012
Pleasures of a Tempted Lady is the third novel in Jennifer Haymore's Donovan Sisters series (and there were some novellas inbetween novels as well), so maybe I shouldn't have started the series at the end. However, have no worries, Pleasures of a Tempted Lady can be read as a standalone since there will be short recaps of all the previous characters and couples and you'll be told of what happened to them and what they have been up to since their book, so you won't feel lost.

The Donovan Sisters series is about the five Donovan sisters: Serena and Meg, Olivia, Phoebe and Jessica. Pleasures of a Tempted Lady is the story of Meg (and Jessica) as all the other sisters have already found their happiness in previous books.

Even though I like reading series in order when I read the blurb of Pleasures of a Tempted Lady I knew I wanted to read it: long lost lovers, sailing through the seas, pirates and thrilling action, I was up for it!

The story was nice, progressing at a good pace, and I liked both the hero and heroine, though of course it was the hero, Will who really stood out for me. He was wonderful: he carried a torch for Meg, the woman he fell in love with and wanted to marry for more than eight years and mourned her since he learned she presumably died at sea. I loved Will's honour and integrity and how deep his respect ran for Meg:

He stared at her thigh for a long moment, his gaze raw with hunger, then he slowly dragged his head up to look at her. She saw something else in his eyes, however, something deeper than hunger. Pain. Her fingers loosened, and her skirt fell to the floor. Her heart swelled in her chest, on the verge of breaking apart. “What’s wrong?” Her voice was a croaking whisper.

“I want you . . . God.” He pushed a harsh hand through his hair. “But not like this.” He took a deep breath, and when she was silent, he continued, “I’ve told you before— I don’t want a liaison. I want something more. I want a partnership. A wife. Someone who will offer me her love and trust without boundaries or conditions.” She stared at him, her eyes burning. “I can’t accept a partner who doesn’t look at me as I look at her. Who won’t trust me, share her deepest thoughts and fears with me, and who won’t turn to me first when something is wrong.” He shook his head. “I cannot—I won’t—do it.”

We learn about a past mistake of his, but I have to say I was even a bit glad to discover he had some skeleton in his closet otherwise he would have been way too perfect. I loved how he viewed Meg as his equal, a partner and did not want a wife to be his chattel:

“I don’t want to rule your life, Meg,” he said soberly. “I just want to be a part of it.”

Although the writing flew smoothly I believe the story could have done with stricter editing. In scenes we were often told of the innermost thoughts of several characters (not just the hero and heroine, but all the sisters and their husbands) giving the reader a more nuanced understanding of the scene but also making the narrative more fractured as it became unclear whose POV we were witnessing. Also, every time a character entered the scene we were given a short rundown of their bio and what happened to them in the previous books. As Pleasures of a Tempted Lady was my introduction to the series I was glad for these recaps, but if I had followed the series from its beginning the frequent reminders would have frustrated me.

Verdict: Pleasures of a Tempted Lady was an enjoyable read. The writing was smooth and captivating, but as I have already mentioned, Pleasures of a Tempted Lady was not only Meg and Will's story but part of a family saga, where we not only learn about what the previous couples have been up to, but also read and witness how Jessica finds love. I would have preferred it if Jessica had her own novel/novella and Pleasures of a Tempted Lady were reserved to Meg and Will, but I'm sure seasoned fans of the series will enjoy revisiting the characters they grew to love in previous books.

Plot: 7/10
Characters: 8/10
Writing: 8/10
Ending: 7/10
Cover: 6/10 - I'm not a fan of the orange-y cover..

Overall I give it 3.5 stars!
Profile Image for Lily.
416 reviews33 followers
July 24, 2012
3.5/5 stars

(Sigh)

Historical romances are just made to flutter lady hearts, and mine was no exception with this book.

It has honestly been awhile since I have picked one of these up, but I do recall being a fan of Johanna Lindsey and her historical romances even back in high school years. In fact, one of my all time favorites, and one of the books I re-read the most until I had to replace my copy (pages were falling out, it was so abused) was her novel "Once a Princess", which inspired many romantic notions and fantasies through my high school years of that ever elusive knight in shining armor.

I didn't initially realize when I requested this ARC, that is was a novel within a series. But I am happy to report that this novel did well as a standalone. I didn't feel like I missed any history that took away any part of enjoyment from this story between Meg and Will.

I was transported into a world of pirates, captains, ballooning dresses full of petticoats. A world that contains gallant, honorable passionate men fighting for your heart, seducing with loving looks, touches and words that made me want to swoon right off my couch to the rug.... and maybe melt right through my hardwood floors, floating and sighing right into my neighbor's apartment, as he stares confused at me in the middle of playing Halo on the PlayStation.

AND of course, evil villains that deserve the full punishment as extended by the law, but you root for your hero to get to them first and avenge his sweetheart!!! (Swoon)

I ended this novel feeling sad, as it was over. But anxious to pick up another historical romance some time soon.

I ended it feeling romantic and thankful to have my own modern knight in shining armor. He also enjoyed that I read this novel. (wink wink)



* For this and more reviews please visit http://bookluvrshaven.blogspot.ca/*
Profile Image for The Window Seat.
689 reviews71 followers
Read
November 4, 2012
I went into the latest Donovan series book with a bit of trepidation. While I had enjoyed the first story of the series Confessions of an Improper Bride, I didn’t have the same luck with book two Secrets of an Accidental Duchess. Knowing that book three Pleasures of a Tempted Lady would include the reunion of two characters desperately in need of a happy ending I allowed myself to start the story with no expectations and to see where the author would take her characters. I am glad to say that Jennifer Haymore has wrapped up the Donovan sister’s stories on a high note; with a story that flowed well, characters who acted in somewhat believable ways and small nods to recurring characters that left a smile on my face.

The lives of the Donovan sisters definitely read more like a daytime soap opera than regular romance books. We’ve got twin sisters swapping lives, fiancés being betrothed to the wrong women, secret children, evil mothers, elopements, and all of that was only in the first book! Fortunately newer readers to the series will get enough background information about all these events as they are explained to the heroine Margaret Donovan. Eight years ago Margaret was thought lost at sea when a storm swept her overboard on her voyage back to Antigua. However, Margaret was saved by a pirate captain and held against her will to become a companion to his wife onboard ship. Throughout that time, Margaret thought never to see her family again, but more than that she feared never having the chance to reunite with her only love Commander William Langley. When the pirate captain begins to threaten her life as well as the life of his child, Margaret takes the first chance she can to escape.

For the full review, please go to http://thewindowseat13.blogspot.com/2...
Profile Image for Kat ~ Forever Book Lover ♥.
258 reviews160 followers
July 13, 2012
You can find this review and more at Forever Book Lover.

I was excited to see that Will's story. I just have to get this out... I never liked Serena and after reading this story I still have mixed emotions about her and her deception. But enough about that, let's talk about the latest book in the Donovan series.

There was alot going on in this book, deception, kidnapping, pirates, scandals~ it was action packed. I think why this didn't work for me, is that so much of the story line was just too hard to believe, it was just one more thing added to the plot and it just made it to hard to imagine.

We learned of Will's indiscretion, that part of the book seemed to be out of place, like it wasn't needed. The story at hand already was packed with so much drama that when I read it, it just didn't fit. I didn't really care for Meg, here is a man willing to die for her and she still does not trust him. I think too much time and words were spent over this. Her biggest fear was that Will had given up on her, well based on all he went through, I wouldn't blame him from walking away. Enough is enough. She not only puts her own life in danger but that of those she supposedly loves.

I loved the secondary story between Jessica and Mr. Briggs, quite honestly I found myself skimming the pages to get to their story. Now their story would be one worth ready!!

The author did a great job building the characters and scripting her words that you could just picture the steamer. I just personally didn't like the heroine.

This could be a stand alone as the author gives you the full background of the Donovan family.
Profile Image for Kasumi.
617 reviews49 followers
July 5, 2017
Al final me salté la segunda parte de esta trilogía y me fui directamente al desenlace, ya que reaparece milagrósamente la gemela perdida a la que la protagonista de la primera novela había "robado" la identidad. ¿Cómo se salvó y qué pasará cuando se sepa lo que ha hecho su hermana?

La novela vuelve a jugar (aunque menos) con el hecho de que haya 2 personajes casi idénticos. La mayor parte de la novela es sobre cómo le cuesta a Meg encajar de nuevo en su propia familia y todo lo que la ha afectado haber sido una prisionera esos 8 años alejada de su familia, que la creía muerta.

En este caso el romance vuelve a ser más una "reconexión" que un descubrimiento, por lo que se siente un tanto ajeno, pero el hecho de que no sea esta instantanea, como pasaba con la hermana, consigue que se sienta más real.
Profile Image for Gaby.
649 reviews22 followers
September 30, 2020
Jennifer Haymore's Donovan series is a treat! Pleasures of a Tempted Lady is the third in the series and brings back the stoic Captain William Langley. It's a few years after Will had gotten engaged to his love Meg Donovan and discovered that she had perished overboard. Except despite the odds, he rescues Meg and a young boy in unsafe waters. Meg is upset to find Will after all this time and to learn that her sister Serena took her name and identity.

As Meg tries to escape from a dangerous smuggler/pirate, she tries keep the pirate from attacking her sisters and WIll. Meg's efforts are well intentioned (Meg was always the good twin and sister) but frustratingly naive.

The love story of Meg Donovan and Will Langley is engrossing and a treat!
Profile Image for Amber.
1,682 reviews1 follower
June 17, 2023
When Meg fell overboard 8 years ago no one ever expected to see her again so when William comes across a disabled jollyboat in the middle of the Irish sea he's absolutely stunned when he recognizes the unconscious woman is Meg and she has a young boy with her. Turns out Meg has a escaped after 8 years in captivity and she took her capturer's son with her to protect him from his father. She spends the rest of the book in hiding from the evil pirate captain who just happens to be the same man that William was sent to find.
Watching these 2 get reacquainted was interesting but a bit slow, though all the drama kind of makes up for that. I really enjoyed this series with all it's out of left field plot points and drama.
127 reviews
May 26, 2025
Enjoyed the series overall. Of the three this was my least favorite. Meg was too dramatic and silly. Will was great. David was a great character as well but could have used a bit more about him, maybe a short story about him and Jessica could have followed, they deserved their own story.
Spoiler: hated that she didn’t fix the Meg / Serena story. Just finally tell the truth. Amnesia is used often in romance novels a fake amnesia story would have worked better than living a lie for the rest of their lives
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Phoenix77.
347 reviews43 followers
August 18, 2016
A great conclusion to the Donovan series, with a happy ever after for two well deserving characters. I enjoyed Margaret for her strength and I loved Will for his dedication. Side characters were well written, but I could have done without the side romance. Overall this was a much better read than the previous title and a good companion piece to book one.

Full Review posted below:

I went into the latest Donovan series book with a bit of trepidation. While I had enjoyed the first story of the series Confessions of an Improper Bride, I didn’t have the same luck with book two Secrets of an Accidental Duchess. Knowing that book three Pleasures of a Tempted Lady would include the reunion of two characters desperately in need of a happy ending I allowed myself to start the story with no expectations and to see where the author would take her characters. I am glad to say that Jennifer Haymore has wrapped up the Donovan sister’s stories on a high note; with a story that flowed well, characters who acted in somewhat believable ways and small nods to recurring characters that left a smile on my face.

The lives of the Donovan sisters definitely read more like a daytime soap opera than regular romance books. We’ve got twin sisters swapping lives, fiancés being betrothed to the wrong women, secret children, evil mothers, elopements, and all of that was only in the first book! Fortunately newer readers to the series will get enough background information about all these events as they are explained to the heroine Margaret Donovan. Eight years ago Margaret was thought lost at sea when a storm swept her overboard on her voyage back to Antigua. However, Margaret was saved by a pirate captain and held against her will to become a companion to his wife onboard ship. Throughout that time, Margaret thought never to see her family again, but more than that she feared never having the chance to reunite with her only love Commander William Langley. When the pirate captain begins to threaten her life as well as the life of his child, Margaret takes the first chance she can to escape.

Captain William Langley’s life has been intertwined with that of the Donovan sisters since his courtship with Margaret eight years past. He was fooled to believe that she was alive and then destroyed to learn that she was lost at sea. He remained friends with the family, never severing the ties to Meg’s sisters as they were his only remaining link to the lost love of his life. When Margaret is found alive after so many years, all of the emotions he has tried to suppress come rushing back, including the guilt he feels about a one night indiscretion that could change his relationship with Margaret forever.

What I appreciated about Will and Margaret’s characters is that while both of them acknowledge that they still feel very strong emotions for the other, they also understand that each of them has changed in eight years. Meg used to be the quiet and diplomatic sister, but her experiences at sea have made her over into a strong willed and intense woman. William too has changed after years of fighting in the Navy, then as a business owner responsible for the lively hood of hundreds, and finally as a man fighting back from heartbreak. The love that they had experienced together in the past was a youthful love, one of possibilities and no thoughts of responsibilities. What they come to find in this book is a love of maturity, with the understanding that it must be a partnership built on trust and respect.

If there was a weakness in the book it was in the secondary romance between Meg’s youngest sister Jessica and Will’s first mate David Briggs. Their courtship is wrapped around the pursuit of the pirate captain who held Meg in captivity as well as unraveling his plot against the Crown, so it was a stretch to believe that they were truly in love. Jessica and David spend very little time together, much of that time barely talking to one another, and all of the perspective is from Jessica’s point of view so it seems more like an infatuation than a deep love. However, as this was the final book in the series it was nice to have all the sisters partnered up before we said our goodbyes to the characters.

I think this series overall would have been stronger if the author had chosen to tell the twin sister’s stories back to back and I would recommend reading the books in that way. Very little of the events of book two have importance in this story, so seeing Serena and Margaret overcome the tragedy of their separation and coming back to the loves they lost has a much deeper impact for the reader.
Profile Image for Adria's Musings.
843 reviews41 followers
June 9, 2012
As originally posted on Breath of Life Reviews

From the moment I read William Langley's reaction to the news that his beloved had been lost at sea, I desperately wanted to see him get his happy ending. The love that this man had for Meg Donovan and the devastation he felt upon finding out her twin was impersonating her just left me feeling heart broken for him.

So when I read that Meg was in fact, not dead, merely missing for 8 years, I was ecstatic and of course, super impatient to get my hands on Pleasures of a Tempted Lady. I couldn't wait until Will and Meg were reunited and see what obstacles they would have to face on the road to their happy ever after. I love stories of long lost loves being reunited after years apart, you have the potential for a really great story.

If there's one thing I've learned about author Jennifer Haymore, it's that she's damn good at writing "second chance at love" stories. Just read A Hint of Wicked or Confessions of an Improper Bride (Book 1 in the Donovan Sisters series featuring Meg's twin Serena) if you don't believe me.

Of course, there's always that bit of anxiety that the magic that was present in the first few books won't be there in the next book. I had very high hopes that Pleasures of a Tempted Lady would be filled with conflict, emotion, humor and passion.

I was not disappointed. It was more than I expected it to be. Jennifer Haymore introduced Will and Meg in Confessions of an Improper Bride as secondary characters, made them fall in love, ripped them apart from each other, and then eight years later reunited them but as older, wiser and in Meg's case, tougher characters. It was definitely an experience watching these two get to know each other all over again.

There is definite character growth in Pleasures of a Tempted Lady as expected, but the amount of growth is a pleasant surprise. Meg's growth allowed her to not only survive her years at the hands of a cold blooded pirate but also to develop the courage to flee and ultimately survive and find love again with the one man she never forgot.

Emotionally, this book is a roller coaster and I enjoyed all the ups and downs. The angst and longing between Will and Meg was bittersweet and heart wrenching, making Pleasures of a Tempted Lady more than your average historical romance novel.

I had some concerns about William Langley at first. He seemed too perfect. It's clear he fell in love with Meg from the start and was devastated when she was presumed dead but for him to be a paragon of virtue for eight solid years seemed a little too far fetched. Luckily, or unluckily for our hero, his biggest secret, which was revealed in Confessions of an Improper Bride, was re-introduced into Pleasures of a Tempted Lady and made Will more realistic and human. Well done.

Sometimes in a book, there are far too many conflicts that the book becomes bogged down with problem after problem that the main couple has to face. I am so glad that this wasn't the case with Pleasures of a Tempted Lady. There is one main, physical conflict and that is the pirate chasing after Meg. He is the one real threat to Meg's life, and provides the pushes and shoves that force Will and Meg to deal with the changes in their lives and personalities and to fight for a future together.

Along with Will and Meg's story is the youngest Donovan sister's love story, though it reads more as a quick novella. While I would have loved for Jessica to have her own book instead of being a secondary love story like Phoebe was in Secrets of an Accidental Duchess, I understood why it wouldn't have worked.

All in all, I loved Pleasures of a Tempted Lady. It had more raw emotion from the lead characters than the other books in the series. Rather than being about passion between two people, it was more about long lost love, reuniting and rekindling that love and being ready to sacrifice everything for the one you love.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.
Profile Image for Joyfully Reviewed.
510 reviews252 followers
September 8, 2012
Captain William Langley has never gotten over the death of his love Meg Donovan. It’s so much easier living his life at sea hunting down pirates for the crown. He has become quite successful with many ships of his own. His orderly and successful life is about to come to a screeching halt as he pulls the love of his life from the ocean eight years after her supposed death.

Meg Donovan has been held captive by a vicious pirate for the last eight years. She finally formed a plan to escape the pirates evil clutches and he might have let her go if she hadn’t taken his son as well. Meg is determined to protect Jake from the maniacal hands of his father. Seeing her beloved Will doesn’t help her resolve. Meg has no desire to put anyone she loves in danger but Will refuses to let her go once again.

Will and Meg try to find balance and let the feelings they once thrived on reemerge but doubts weigh heavy. Will Meg’s resolve to protect little Jake tear her away from the only man she’s every loved? Can Will save Meg from her pursuers and herself?

Jennifer Haymore’s Pleasures of a Tempted Lady is an exquisite romance!! Passion and the high seas have never looked as good as they do in Pleasures of a Tempted Lady. The story of Will and Meg has been long awaited. In book one of the Donovan Sisters poor Meg; Serena Donovan’s twin sister fell overboard on their return trip to Antigua. She was presumed dead by all those who loved her including William Langley. A lot of changes have occurred in the eight years since Meg went missing. There is also a lot of ground to cover between Meg and Will, and watching these two do the dance of desire is blissfully exciting.

Will and Meg have danger stalking their every step but that cannot put a damper on the sweet sexual tension between them. Pleasures of a Tempted Lady is riddled with high emotion beginning with the magical moment when Will sees his beloved Meg for the first time in eight years. My heart leapt into my throat as I experienced those moments with Will. Pleasures of a Tempted Lady features many emotional moments including the scene in which Meg is reunited with her sisters. I found this scene compelling and charged with real intensity. Meg wants to be happy but she is hiding things and she has just learned of the twin switch. Meg’s twin Serena now holds her name among society all of this creates conflicting feelings for Meg.

It was fantastic to see all of the Donovan sisters back in action. It is impossible not to fall in love with these characters. Not only does Pleasures of a Tempted Lady have all the right emotions and outstanding characters but it also features some awesome action sequences on the ocean. Ms. Haymore vividly describes these scenes propelling the reader right into the middle of them. I could feel the water and see the cannon balls arcing across the water.

Pleasures of a Tempted Lady is an August Recommend Read because it’s an inspiring and mesmerizing romance. I cannot wait to read the tale of Will and Meg all over again. Pleasures of a Tempted Lady’s Will and Meg will always remain a favorite of mine. This couple is fierce, sexy and extraordinary.

Reviewed by Miranda for Joyfully Reviewed
Profile Image for Danielle.
925 reviews144 followers
July 13, 2012
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick

When I finished reading the last book from Jennifer Haymore, I just couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I had such high expectations for it. Unfortunately I think my high expectations ruined it a bit. I just couldn't really get into this book and it just felt like it moved so slowly.

Eight years ago while sailing home to Antigua with her sisters Meg accidentally fell overboard and was never found. She was presumed to be dead, but in truth she has spent the last eight years held captive by a pirate. Finally Meg has been able to escape and she has taken the pirates son Jake whom she has come to love as if her were her own son. During her escape Meg and Jake were caught in a terrible storm and both are now just floating aimlessly in the ocean hoping to find help.

Captain William Langley has spent the last eight years thinking about Meg and just how much he loved her. Will would give anything to just see her once again and let her know just how much he loved her. Will is out on a mission to find smugglers when he comes across a small boat with two passengers. Imagine his shock when he discovers one of the passengers just happens to be his long lost Meg. While can't believe his eyes to see Meg again. Will is bound and determined to never lose Meg again, and he will do everything he can to keep both her and Jake safe.

For me, I just had such a difficult time connecting with Meg. I just never really warmed up to her and I honestly didn't like her all that much. She just came off as cold and a bit uncaring towards everyone but Jake. I understand that she's been through a lot with being held captive for the last eight years, but I would have liked to see her make more a connection with her family and Will. She continuously keeps them at an arms length and seems so uncaring to their feelings. She purposely makes irrational decisions regardless of anyone else's opinions. She is very stubborn. Instead of asking for help or even just unburdening herself of the truth, she runs and keeps everything a secret. It was very aggravating to read.

As for Will, oh my goodness but he was an amazing hero. For the last eight years he has held a torch for Meg and never gave up his love for her. Even despite the rumors of her death, he stayed truthful to her and I found that so endearing. His emotions jumped off the page and slapped you in the face. I like that even though you know just how much he loves Meg he doesn't come off as a pansy.

One thing I did enjoy with this story was the secondary characters. I liked seeing more of Meg's family and seeing more of Jessica. I'll be honest, at first I found Jessica really annoying and slightly snobby but by the end of the book I really liked her. I also really liked getting to know Briggs. I liked him so much that I wish he would have gotten his own book. There is just so much more I would have liked to see from him.

**ARC copy provided by NetGalley**
Profile Image for Jen Davis.
Author 7 books726 followers
August 13, 2012
3.5 Stars
Ever since we were first introduced to the Donovan sisters in Confessions of an Improper Bride, I knew in my heart that Meg was alive and I had to have her story. Poor Meg fell overboard into the sea eight years ago and has been presumed dead all of this time. Her sisters mourned her. So, too, did William, the man she planned to marry.

She never thought she would see him again after she was kidnapped by a cruel pirate. Since he took her, she has been aboard his ship, trying to teach his wife to be a proper lady... that is, until the woman died, sending the pirate further off into the deep end. Meg managed an escape with the man's young son in tow. She had to get him away from his father's cruelty, especially since the child's mother had passed away. She didn't make it far in her little boat. Thankfully, it was William who found her adrift and rescued her and the boy.

Even after so many years, the old feelings come rushing back for the both of them. But her experiences have changed Meg. She is terrified that the pirate will find her and snatch his son back. He has deep connections in high places and she fears nowhere is safe from his grasp. And this is what plagues her relationship with Will throughout the book.

William is a pretty great hero. He did make one misstep (which seemed grossly out of character,) but beyond that, he is damn near perfect. He is strong, stalwart, sexy, understanding, forgiving, protective and loving. He isn't afraid to speak his heart or to go after what he wants in a relationship with Meg. He is great with little Jake. Despite all this, Meg pushes him away over and over again. She thinks she is "protecting him." Instead, she hurts him and almost ruins her own chances at happiness. It was frustrating.

In the course of the story, Meg is reunited with her family, which gives us an update on the women we have gotten to know in the previous books. It also opens the story for a secondary romance between younger sister Jessica and David, a man who served on Will's ship. This side story was so good, it was a shame that there wasn't more of it. Frankly, these two should have gotten their own book --or at the very least a novella. I feel a bit robbed.

I did like the book overall, though my issues with Meg kept me from loving it as much as I hoped to.

Rating: B-

*ARC Provided by NetGalley
Profile Image for L.E.Olteano  .
514 reviews70 followers
September 18, 2012
The historical world of the novel was convincing enough and interesting, though much of the action takes place on ships, so we're not overly involved in historical 'high' society. The 'out at sea', ocean, whatever scenery was interesting but not overly focused on. I didn't mind it, the fact that world was subtle helped me focus on the plot and characters more.

Now, focused on them as I was, the main couple William and Meg were fun, but they didn't win me all the way. I felt bad for them both, I got where they were coming from and what their motivations were, but I didn't really connect with them on a personal level as much as I would have liked. Oddly, I connected more with Jess and Will's second in command, in fact, though they were present for less time in the story and they had smaller roles.
I'm not sure why, but neither Will nor Meg came off as charismatic for me, though their personal stories were touching.

The plot was historically adapted, let's say, the way the story evolved including the traditional themes of secrets, conspiracies, villains and wrongdoers, ambitious parents. These elements were woven into an interesting story, but I for one didn't feel hooked all the way. I was curious, I wanted to see how it went, but it didn't strike me as gripping. This perhaps had to do with my chemistry with the main couple, I'm sure if I had been more emotionally involved where they were concerned, I would have responded otherwise.

Part of what I really liked was the writing, because though with some characters I didn't really connect, I did connect with others as I've said before. And even though the story itself didn't hook me all the way, the way it was written kept me interested till the end.

As far as curb appeal goes, the cover & blurb combo look awesome and they would get me to buy the book most likely if I were historically inclined on the day.

All in all, I say this was an interesting read, though I wasn't overly excited I was entertained and I thoroughly enjoyed the Jess and Mr. Briggs arc, in fact I found myself wishing they would have been the mains.

Butterfly-o-Meter Books
Profile Image for Anna Kay.
1,457 reviews161 followers
July 25, 2012
This review will be a little different from past ones, as I feel that I honestly have nothing to personally to add to the summary above. I read the first two books in the series and truly liked Serena (who is masquerading as her twin Meg, who she believes to be dead) and Phoebe. I loved Serena and truly felt how torn she was about becoming Meg to save her family from ruin. Phoebe's strength and presence of mind were awesome compare to most historical romance heroines. I thought that the real Meg would at least be semi-relatable - she was not. Meg was able to get out of her captor's clutches, be rescued by a handsome captain and returned to her family. All she could do was complain! She made ridiculous decisions that supposedly were for the best interests of everyone, trying to solve her problems ineffectually on her own to 'spare' her family. You can tell that she despises Serena for stealing her identity and doesn't even want to attempt to understand why she did it, or even that their Mother was the one who originally began the deception. She is a whining, weak-spined, cold fish of a heroine. Captain Will Langley was the hero of the story, having waited eight years against all odds for Meg even when she was believed to be dead. Then when he got her back and she was an ungrateful brat, he still stuck with her and waited for her to wise up. He's the Wentworth of the paperback, dime-a-dozen set. I honestly did not really care for most of this book and felt like it was twice as long as it needed to be. Really glad to be able to say that I finished the series, but I truly wish that Meg would have been worth waiting for. The fact that I was able to finish and the glimpses of the other characters were the only things that made this book worth reading. Only attempt if you're determined to finish the series.


VERDICT: 2/5 Stars


*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is July 31st, 2012.*
Profile Image for D.C..
Author 18 books107 followers
June 16, 2012
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Forbidden passion is the ultimate temptation...

Captain William Langley knows the ocean well, but nothing could prepare him for what he discovers adrift on the cold Irish Sea. The tiny boat carries two passengers: a child—and Meg Donovan, Will's long-lost love. Meg's disappearance at sea eight years ago was a devastating blow. Now she's back, as beautiful as ever, and with secrets as deep as Will's own.

After years held captive by a cold-blooded pirate, Meg has finally escaped with little Jake, the boy she's come to love as if he were her own. But the pirate wants his revenge—and Meg must do whatever it takes to shield Jake from the madman. Determined not to lose Meg again, Will vows to protect them both, yet Meg can't risk putting the only man she's ever loved in danger. With the threat to her safety growing, and her passion for Will burning brighter every day, surrendering herself to Will might be a pleasure too tempting to resist.
THE REVIEW:
Oh the swoon worthiness with this read tops the chart! Ms Haymore has a way with her historical novels that brings action, adventure, drama, and sensuality right to the front door. She delivered with this book and has made me a fan – right from page one.

Captain Will and Meg Donovan demanded attention and seeked to draw the reader’s right into their worlds. I loved how Ms. Haymore not only included the attentions of the two leads but also added the additional one of Meg’s sister, Jessica. On a side note I have to point out that I loved Jessica and Mr. Briggs and actually wished for more between those two.

Will’s feelings seem genuine and my heart broke over and over for him. I loved how Ms. Haymore put the entire piece together in a gripping read that I just couldn’t put down. Her words are as smooth as melted butter and the action as enticing as nothing else.

For this read I give it five stars out of five and thank Ms. Haymore not only for introducing us to this story but also for the chance on adding yet another favorite author to my list. A job well done.
Profile Image for Hannah Fielding.
Author 18 books636 followers
June 28, 2012
You know that moment when you rather wearily order a desert in a restaurant, knowing you are full and not expecting much of the crème brûlée, but when you take that first spoonful – oh my! It’s delicious, and at once you give up following the conversation of your companions and lose yourself in a decadent few minutes of sheer escapism. That’s the best analogy I can find for reading Pleasures of a Tempted Lady.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to read a copy of this book pre-publication, and from the synopsis I had expected to enjoy it given the era in which it is set, the passionate cover and the high seas adventures promised. But I hadn’t expected to be quite so gripped! Jennifer is a wonderful writer with such expert control of the narrative – drip-feeding information carefully, never telling the reader more than she needs to know, and the result is an intriguing read. In addition, there is so much action, so many twists and turns, that I was quite simply riveted.

This isn’t a book weighed down in over-poeticism and writing that reads as if the author were penning the novel in the time it is set, which can often be the case, I find, in historical romance – though that is not at all to say that the writing isn’t well-crafted because it absolutely is. The writing is direct and modern in feel (outside of the dialogue, of course), which means it is the plot and the characters that are the focus. And I loved these two elements of the book. The plot drew me in from the outset – such drama and heartache and longing. And the characters were especially gripping – I loved the Donavan sisters’ dynamic, and was delighted when it became clear that the novel was to cover not just one love story, but two. And sensual love stories at that – the love scenes were moving indeed.

Jennifer Haymore is an exciting new find for me, and I shall be sure to check out her other books. If you like historical romance, and page-turning books with strong characters and dramatic stories, then I very much recommend Pleasures of a Tempted Lady to you.
Profile Image for Daisy.
687 reviews117 followers
September 15, 2012
I really liked the second book in this series, Secrets of an Accidental Duchess, so when I saw the sequel about the mysterious Meg I didn't know how fast I had to click that request button. I'm sad to say this one didn't live up to my expectations.

I REALLY wanted to like Pleasures of a Tempted Lady, and while it was ok, it wasn't nearly as good as Secrets of an Accidental Duchess was. In theory it had all the right ingredients: ships, pirates (sort of), a dashing hero, SECRETS and there was actually something at stake. Looking back, I think the stumbling block for me was the heroine.

You see, Meg was kind of bland. I never really got what was so special about her, except that she was really pretty. After reading the whole book I still don't know how to define her personality, she was just not memorable to me. Which is what made me not fully believe that this wonderful man would still be pining for her after 8 years.
At times I just wanted to shake her, because she was having some too-stupid-to-live moments. I mean, seriously, OF COURSE it's a good idea to go off on your own as a woman when there's an evil, powerful man chasing you and leave every protection behind... GAH!

Will is a good guy. Granted, he did make a mistake way back when, but well, it's been almost 8 years and he's been punishing himself for it ever since, so I can forgive him for it. I could root for him. I just wished he had chosen a different kind of woman to fall in love with.

There's also a side story with the youngest Donovan sister mixed in, which felt a little unnecessary and hastily done to me. These two could have easily had their own novel or novella and it would have been better I think.

I did like Pleasures of a Tempted Lady, but after reading the second book in the series I'd come to expect something a little more exciting. I was also kind of sad Olivia didn't make more of an appearance, because all the other sisters were frequently present.

My rating: 2,5 stars
Profile Image for Aislynn.
238 reviews62 followers
Read
October 16, 2012
Once again we meet the Donovan sisters. While Serena and the rest of the family has been in London, Meg has been going through hell. After falling overboard on during a voyage, she vanished – presumed drowned. Little does anyone know, she was rescued and has been held captive by an evil cold blooded pirate! She manages to escape, taking with her the son of a friend; who she desperately wants to protect from his menace of a father.

The last person she expected to see on her rescue ship was Will - her long lost love. So much has happened in both their lives over the last eight years, both of them have a great deal to learn about one another and to deal with. Will wants to take her back to England and to her family, she wants to hid and not bring her family into the mess she fears could happen. Meg finally gives in and is reunited with her sisters – unfortunately with all that happened in the past books Meg has to take on the guise of Serena, her twin.. as “Meg” is technically married to the Earl of Statford.

I loved how this book tied up all the loose ends of the Donovan sisters. We finally get to know what really happened to Meg, and she gets her happy ending – like both her sisters have had. This family has had to overcome a tremendous amount of tragedy and obstacles to be one again.

Can Will protect Meg and Jake from the madman that is hunting them? Can she admit she still cares for him and be together again? Can she live her life as Serena and not Meg? Will she ever feel at home in England? - so many questions!

Would I recommend this book? Oh yes, yes yes! If you loved any of the other Donovan books – Confessions of an Improper Bride or Secrets of an Accidental Duchess – you will LOVE this book. Will I read more by this author? Of course! I already have several other titles by Jennifer on my bookcase and I will be adding more as they come!
Profile Image for Melanie.
921 reviews41 followers
June 20, 2013
This is the third story in Donovan Sisters series and we finally get Meg’s story.

Meg is the twin sister to Serena who eight years ago was presumed drowned while they were sailing home to Antigua after a scandal in England.

In this book we find out where Meg spent those long years and the story’s not pretty.

So far this series isn’t blowing me away, and the only reason I read this story is its hero, Captain William Langley who was left high and dry by ‘Meg’ [actually Serena pretending to be her] who fell for Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford who was the main culprit of the scandal to begin with. If you haven’t read the first book, don’t fret too much, this book will fill in the blanks and you’ll be well-informed of the background of all past characters.

My heart ached for Will and I was looking forward to his happy ending, which was really long in coming.

Captain William Langley has spent the last eight years carrying the torch for his lost love and would have given anything to see her again.

In his wildest dreams he never expected that wish to come true.

While he’s after some smugglers, they come upon a boat with a woman and a boy in it, and low and behold, his Meg is restored to him.

This is another book of Ms. Haymore that I just could not connect with. I’m not sure if it’s the characterization or the plot, or possibly both. The book is well written, fast paced, but even that didn’t make me like Meg or her actions. I even found Will a bit unnerving and not as I remembered him in the first book.

The only thing that made this read bearable were the secondary characters of Jessica and David. Talk about different personalities! While Meg was aloof and off-putting, Jess was trusting and loyal.

I do recommend you read it if you’re vested in this series already, but otherwise you might want to skip it.


*Book provided by publisher from NetGalley.
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