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Sweet Temptation
Sara Raymond's joy in marrying the man she's adored since childhood turns to heartache when she realizes that he suspects her of a devious scheme
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 29, 2026
Read: 3/27/26
Setting: 1745 England, Scotland
Trope: second chances, forced marriage
2.5 stars
plot: Gavin's cruel father has come up with another scheme to ruin Gavin's life. He's forcing Gavin to marry his ward. He wants an heir and Sara's dowry. If Gavin doesn't cooperate the man will divorce Gavin's mother and remarry to produce another heir. Gavin knows the b*****d would do it, too! Gavin is so biter and angry before he meets Sara and his feelings don't lessen after the wedding.
Sara has been lonely ever since her father died and she was left at school. Now, she's told she has to marry Gavin. Sara has secretly loved him since they were children and is excited to marry him, until she sees him at the church. The anger coming off him is frightening. Then they have their wedding night. Gavin doesn't join her in bed until late after drinking a bottle of Brandy. While he didn't hurt Sara, he wasn't kind either. Frightened by her new feelings, Sara kicks him out and doesn't see him again until his mother dies. In his anger and grief, he tells Sara the brutal truth about their marriage. Then he announces that he is taking his mother to Scotland to be buried.
Heartbroken, Sara wants to leave this miserable house, but her FIL refuses to give her any of HER money. So Sara decides to go to Scotland and demand Gavin give her her money! Unfortunately, on the way, Sara and her maid are accosted by bandits. Then are saved by Bonnie Prince Charlie himself. So for a little while, Sara travels with Jacobite army. When she is finally reunited with Gavin, she's shocked he's so angry. Hmm... I wonder why 🤔. Now, these two are forced to spend time together. So will Gavin let go of his bitterness and finally see the treasure he has in Sara or will he let his anger destroy him?
liked:
1. The last 30% of the book was great, which is why I gave this book an extra star. It was almost a dnf for me.
2. The secondary characters were more interesting than the MC. Strangely, I liked the OW, even when I wanted to slap her.
3. Though, the author plays loose with history, she does so in an entertaining way.
4. Gavin doesn't cheat on Sara.
5. There was something about the father that intrigued me. He would have made an excellent antihero in another book.
disliked:
1. Gavin acts like an angry teenager having a temper tantrum through most of the book. He's hard to like after too many pages of this annoying behavior. Though, his character does improve near the end. TG!
2. Sara was sweet and naive. There's not much more to her personality. I hated that no matter what Gavin did, she still loved him. I wanted her to get mad and leave him. Instead, she follows him like a puppy dog.
3. The romance doesn't begin until 60% into the book. The rest of the book is misunderstanding after misunderstanding. Gavin scared of his feelings and Sara always forgiving of it all. 🤢
4. Who travels to Scotland during a rebellion?
5. Gavin handed over Sara's dowry to his father as soon as he married.
Conclusion: This was an okay story. It could've been so much better if Sara stood up for herself more. This is my 1st book by this author and it may be my last.
Setting: 1745 England, Scotland
Trope: second chances, forced marriage
2.5 stars
plot: Gavin's cruel father has come up with another scheme to ruin Gavin's life. He's forcing Gavin to marry his ward. He wants an heir and Sara's dowry. If Gavin doesn't cooperate the man will divorce Gavin's mother and remarry to produce another heir. Gavin knows the b*****d would do it, too! Gavin is so biter and angry before he meets Sara and his feelings don't lessen after the wedding.
Sara has been lonely ever since her father died and she was left at school. Now, she's told she has to marry Gavin. Sara has secretly loved him since they were children and is excited to marry him, until she sees him at the church. The anger coming off him is frightening. Then they have their wedding night. Gavin doesn't join her in bed until late after drinking a bottle of Brandy. While he didn't hurt Sara, he wasn't kind either. Frightened by her new feelings, Sara kicks him out and doesn't see him again until his mother dies. In his anger and grief, he tells Sara the brutal truth about their marriage. Then he announces that he is taking his mother to Scotland to be buried.
Heartbroken, Sara wants to leave this miserable house, but her FIL refuses to give her any of HER money. So Sara decides to go to Scotland and demand Gavin give her her money! Unfortunately, on the way, Sara and her maid are accosted by bandits. Then are saved by Bonnie Prince Charlie himself. So for a little while, Sara travels with Jacobite army. When she is finally reunited with Gavin, she's shocked he's so angry. Hmm... I wonder why 🤔. Now, these two are forced to spend time together. So will Gavin let go of his bitterness and finally see the treasure he has in Sara or will he let his anger destroy him?
liked:
1. The last 30% of the book was great, which is why I gave this book an extra star. It was almost a dnf for me.
2. The secondary characters were more interesting than the MC. Strangely, I liked the OW, even when I wanted to slap her.
3. Though, the author plays loose with history, she does so in an entertaining way.
4. Gavin doesn't cheat on Sara.
5. There was something about the father that intrigued me. He would have made an excellent antihero in another book.
disliked:
1. Gavin acts like an angry teenager having a temper tantrum through most of the book. He's hard to like after too many pages of this annoying behavior. Though, his character does improve near the end. TG!
2. Sara was sweet and naive. There's not much more to her personality. I hated that no matter what Gavin did, she still loved him. I wanted her to get mad and leave him. Instead, she follows him like a puppy dog.
3. The romance doesn't begin until 60% into the book. The rest of the book is misunderstanding after misunderstanding. Gavin scared of his feelings and Sara always forgiving of it all. 🤢
4. Who travels to Scotland during a rebellion?
5. Gavin handed over Sara's dowry to his father as soon as he married.
Conclusion: This was an okay story. It could've been so much better if Sara stood up for herself more. This is my 1st book by this author and it may be my last.
June 26, 2022
I’m sorry, but our “hero” raping our heroine on their wedding night because he is so overcome with lust that he can’t help himself….that’s a no for me. DNF.
July 24, 2017
I love this author way of redeeming its character that it made me one moment furious and the next moment sympathetic..... and worst fell in love not only with the characters but the story as well....
November 29, 2021
I think it was nice
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2013
I like this book. It was a good read. When Sara Raymond gets to marry the man she has loved since she was a child it seems like a dream for her only to then find out this man she loved as a boy has grown into a not very nice man. Gavin Carlisle you couldn't help but not like him in the beginning. Even though Sara was quite naïve in the way of life and love Gavin came to her as a brutal mean man and then leaves her the day after their wedding day to flee to what you assume is into the arms of one of his many mistresses. I was glad to read on that that was not the case and then I started to like this man. Sara saw through all his anger Gavin had towards his father and women in particular and still managed to find something to love. She never once gave up on this man, her husband and for that you could no longer see Sara as some young inexperienced fool any more. She held on to the love she had for this man knowing that one day Gavin would realise that he did indeed love her after all but was just too afraid to feel it or admit it to himself for fear of being hurt. Glad Gavin got his HEA in the end and I couldn't help but like him in the end also.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews