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Pregnancy & Passion #3
Tempted
A fan favorite from #1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Maya Banks!When marriage under false pretenses leads to a very real pregnancy…For Ashley Carter, marrying Devon Carter is a dream come true. Her whole life has been building up to this. But not long after her trip down the aisle, her happily-ever-after notions are dealt a swift blow when she learns that their marriage is business merger orchestrated by Daddy. Left with few options, Ashley becomes all-business herself. She will act the part of perfect wife until Devon loves her for real.But Devon is baffled by the change. He married an innocent, playful, exuberant woman, not this by-the-books society wife with the frosty, cordial veneer. What happened to the old Ashley? What will it take to bring the passion back to her eyes, and to their marriage…especially now that a baby’s on the way?TEMPTED was originally published as Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss in 2012.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2018
415 people are currently reading
3520 people want to read
About the author
Maya Banks
249 books21.6k followersMaya Banks is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today and international bestselling author of over 50 novels. A wife and mother of three, she lives in Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 370 reviews
March 30, 2012
Holy shit. Y'all, this is bad. This is the gold medal winner of the Bad Romance Novel Olympics. The platonic ideal of bad. It is so bad I enjoyed every page because I knew it could only get worse, and it never let me down.
Okay, so you have the heroine, Ashley. Ashley is a 23 year old college graduate whose list of things she doesn't understand contains the following: business, computers, and bottle openers. No, I'm not kidding about that last part. She is so helpless she has to ask the "hero" to open a wine bottle for their dinner because she CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT.
Meanwhile, the hero (who for the sake of this review we will call Douchecanoe). Oh, Mr. Douchecanoe. You see, he rilllllllly wants to merge his business with the hotel business of Lady Fails-a-lot's father. Daddy dearest says sure, just marry my useless (albeit decorative) daughter, and business is go. Trouble is, he's a Very Serious Douchecanoe, and Ashley is a Troublesome Free Spirit. You know, the usual businessman/flighty lady conflict.
Actually, I feel a little bad for Sir Douchecanoe. Ashley is an idiot. I mean, full stop. She's a like six year old girl in the body of an adult. Everything she does is in full hyper-sparkle mode - until of course she gets her heart broken at which point she develops a spine and moves to San Francisco and joins a lesbian commune - oh wait, no, that's another book. She instead decides to become a perfect little docile housewife because somehow that will make M. le Douchecanoe love her.
From this point on it's pretty predictable - Ashley martyrs herself, Senor Douchecanoe realizes he's a big old meanie (once she's pregnant, anyways), and they move to the country because you CAN'T RAISE A FAMILY IN THE CITY. NEVER. YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE AXE-MURDERERS. GAY AXE MURDERERS.
Does Daddy Dearest get away with it? Oh yes, because she knows he was just trying to look out for her. Gag. Does Douchecanoe-san ever stop treating her like a small, fragile child? Bien sur que non.
Highlight of the book: Ashley finding out her marriage is a sham by accidentally smacking her hand (while TWIRLING) into Herr Douchecanoe's laptop, and knocking the battery out. She figures out how to put the battery back in, but doesn't "understand" computers (or birth control. or breathing. or anything) and "presses buttons" until "lots of programs" appear, one of them being the .pdf of the contract her cher Papa made le Comte de Douchecanoe sign re: marrying her.
I fucking love romance, but jesus h christ, this book is why we can't have nice things.
Okay, so you have the heroine, Ashley. Ashley is a 23 year old college graduate whose list of things she doesn't understand contains the following: business, computers, and bottle openers. No, I'm not kidding about that last part. She is so helpless she has to ask the "hero" to open a wine bottle for their dinner because she CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT.
Meanwhile, the hero (who for the sake of this review we will call Douchecanoe). Oh, Mr. Douchecanoe. You see, he rilllllllly wants to merge his business with the hotel business of Lady Fails-a-lot's father. Daddy dearest says sure, just marry my useless (albeit decorative) daughter, and business is go. Trouble is, he's a Very Serious Douchecanoe, and Ashley is a Troublesome Free Spirit. You know, the usual businessman/flighty lady conflict.
Actually, I feel a little bad for Sir Douchecanoe. Ashley is an idiot. I mean, full stop. She's a like six year old girl in the body of an adult. Everything she does is in full hyper-sparkle mode - until of course she gets her heart broken at which point she develops a spine and moves to San Francisco and joins a lesbian commune - oh wait, no, that's another book. She instead decides to become a perfect little docile housewife because somehow that will make M. le Douchecanoe love her.
From this point on it's pretty predictable - Ashley martyrs herself, Senor Douchecanoe realizes he's a big old meanie (once she's pregnant, anyways), and they move to the country because you CAN'T RAISE A FAMILY IN THE CITY. NEVER. YOUR CHILDREN WILL BE AXE-MURDERERS. GAY AXE MURDERERS.
Does Daddy Dearest get away with it? Oh yes, because she knows he was just trying to look out for her. Gag. Does Douchecanoe-san ever stop treating her like a small, fragile child? Bien sur que non.
Highlight of the book: Ashley finding out her marriage is a sham by accidentally smacking her hand (while TWIRLING) into Herr Douchecanoe's laptop, and knocking the battery out. She figures out how to put the battery back in, but doesn't "understand" computers (or birth control. or breathing. or anything) and "presses buttons" until "lots of programs" appear, one of them being the .pdf of the contract her cher Papa made le Comte de Douchecanoe sign re: marrying her.
I fucking love romance, but jesus h christ, this book is why we can't have nice things.
May 25, 2020
*Re-read* I actually added a star on re-read. That doesn't happen too often. I was more sympathetic to the heroine this time around (I don't know why - maybe I haven't read about any sweet heroines lately) thus the angst was more compelling. Hero is still an ass.
This isn't the edition I read. Note to self it was: Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss / Never Too Late. (The story at end was dreadful, fyi.)
Okay, on to this story. The conflict: Hero is forced into marriage with the heroine by heroine's father if he wants to take over/run a hotel chain. The caveat is that he can't tell the heroine and he lets the heroine think he's in love with her. Heroine is a fluffy kitten who loves the hero in the most exuberant way. The tension in the first half of the story is the reader waiting for the other shoe to drop so that the fluffy kitten feels the angst and pain the hero and his friends are certain will occur if she ever finds out.
Fluffy kitten does not disappoint. She finds out on her wedding night when she sees an email from her father. Hero feels bad and apologizes and then tells her to harden up.
Heroine takes that to mean she must change her personality in order for the hero to love her. So she moons around learning to cook and clean and open a wine bottle. All of these efforts are causing migraines and she is no longer fluffy. Hero's friends yell at him for being so mean when they see the her fur is matted and her eyes are dull.
This isn't the edition I read. Note to self it was: Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss / Never Too Late. (The story at end was dreadful, fyi.)
Okay, on to this story. The conflict: Hero is forced into marriage with the heroine by heroine's father if he wants to take over/run a hotel chain. The caveat is that he can't tell the heroine and he lets the heroine think he's in love with her. Heroine is a fluffy kitten who loves the hero in the most exuberant way. The tension in the first half of the story is the reader waiting for the other shoe to drop so that the fluffy kitten feels the angst and pain the hero and his friends are certain will occur if she ever finds out.
Fluffy kitten does not disappoint. She finds out on her wedding night when she sees an email from her father. Hero feels bad and apologizes and then tells her to harden up.
Heroine takes that to mean she must change her personality in order for the hero to love her. So she moons around learning to cook and clean and open a wine bottle. All of these efforts are causing migraines and she is no longer fluffy. Hero's friends yell at him for being so mean when they see the her fur is matted and her eyes are dull.
February 1, 2012
I've often said that Maya Banks has found the perfect recipe to write a Silhouette Desire, a fraught situation and deception and a perfect blend of a hero who starts out as a jerk but is felled by an awesome heroine and best of all he has to work to get her back.
This is the third book in the series about four friends and as we've heard in the other two books Devon the hero has been handed a situation, romance the daughter of the man whose company he wants to merge with and he finds it no hardship, Ashley is sweet, impulsive and quite amazing though he does think to himself that she may have to tone it down and be a less exuberant but he enjoys her company and to bring his plan to fruition take her innocence and tops it off with a proposal, Ashley the romantic falls for it thinking that all her dreams have come true and doesn't question why Devon wants he to move in with him and get married soon.
Cold, you may think and in a way you may be right but you know about those thick-headed heroes?, who think all logically, well Devon is one of them and even when he pretends he doesn't like how affectionate Ashley is and how she calls him all the time, you know deep down he loves it. And Devon to be honest never wanted to deceive her but instead wanted to tell her the truth about the deal but her father didn't want that and Devon goes along with it, all the while during the wedding his friend Cam warns him that Ashley isn't like him and can be hurt.
Then everything blows up on their honeymoon when Ashley reads an e-mail and confronts him. Ashely was a heroine you couldn't help but like she saw the best in people and knew people saw her as naive but she really wasn't only kind-hearted and then her wedding blows up on her face and she sees through the fog of romance that had enveloped her.
She isn't impulsive then instead thinks things through, she hates what Devon has done to her but she still loves him and like her, Devon wants to make an effort to try, so she thinks she will rein in her impulses as Devon said and make him try to love her but things as we see don't go so well.
She tries to be the perfect wife, cleaning and cooking and at this moment you feel angry for her, you can see how unhappy she is and how she is suffocating her real self, all the while Devon is busy with the changes in his business and tip-toeing around her, giving her space and allowing her whatever she needs to do to cope but things become too much for Ashely and she finally decides that the only person she needs to make happy is herself and at this moment you are rooting for her.
While the dumb hero wallows in his mistakes, berating himself for his denseness and all the mistakes he has made, this has to be my favorite moment in a romance, just love it and then he tries to make up for it.
Honestly, I loved the book and can't wait for Cam's book.
ARC provided by Netgalley.
This is the third book in the series about four friends and as we've heard in the other two books Devon the hero has been handed a situation, romance the daughter of the man whose company he wants to merge with and he finds it no hardship, Ashley is sweet, impulsive and quite amazing though he does think to himself that she may have to tone it down and be a less exuberant but he enjoys her company and to bring his plan to fruition take her innocence and tops it off with a proposal, Ashley the romantic falls for it thinking that all her dreams have come true and doesn't question why Devon wants he to move in with him and get married soon.
Cold, you may think and in a way you may be right but you know about those thick-headed heroes?, who think all logically, well Devon is one of them and even when he pretends he doesn't like how affectionate Ashley is and how she calls him all the time, you know deep down he loves it. And Devon to be honest never wanted to deceive her but instead wanted to tell her the truth about the deal but her father didn't want that and Devon goes along with it, all the while during the wedding his friend Cam warns him that Ashley isn't like him and can be hurt.
Then everything blows up on their honeymoon when Ashley reads an e-mail and confronts him. Ashely was a heroine you couldn't help but like she saw the best in people and knew people saw her as naive but she really wasn't only kind-hearted and then her wedding blows up on her face and she sees through the fog of romance that had enveloped her.
She isn't impulsive then instead thinks things through, she hates what Devon has done to her but she still loves him and like her, Devon wants to make an effort to try, so she thinks she will rein in her impulses as Devon said and make him try to love her but things as we see don't go so well.
She tries to be the perfect wife, cleaning and cooking and at this moment you feel angry for her, you can see how unhappy she is and how she is suffocating her real self, all the while Devon is busy with the changes in his business and tip-toeing around her, giving her space and allowing her whatever she needs to do to cope but things become too much for Ashely and she finally decides that the only person she needs to make happy is herself and at this moment you are rooting for her.
While the dumb hero wallows in his mistakes, berating himself for his denseness and all the mistakes he has made, this has to be my favorite moment in a romance, just love it and then he tries to make up for it.
Honestly, I loved the book and can't wait for Cam's book.
ARC provided by Netgalley.
October 16, 2012
Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss is the third book in Maya Banks’ Pregnancy and Passion series, and another great story. Like the other books in the series, the plot isn’t terribly unique, but Ms. Banks has taken what would have been predictable, fleshed it out, tweaked it and made it into something distinctively hers.
About the book: Devon Carter is all about business. He’s smart, determined and power hungry, and will do whatever he has to do to continue climbing the ladder of success, even if that means marrying William Copeland’s daughter in order to secure a business merger between Tricorp and Copeland Hotels. Marrying Ashley certainly wouldn’t be a hardship; she’s beautiful, loving, and easily managed, so the way Devon sees it, it’s a win-win situation.I’m a big fan of “heroes who pull their heads out of their asses and finally see the light” stories, and this one definitely fits into that category. There is so much emotional depth to this story that I found myself holding my breath at times, waiting to see what was going to happen next, and how Devon could possibly atone for his actions. It was heartbreaking watching Ashley try to become someone she wasn’t, while at the same time seeing Devon realize that he was in love with the woman Ashley had been all along, not the woman she was becoming. Ashley started out a bit on the weak side as far as heroines go, but really did hold her own by the end of the story.
Ashley Copeland has been sheltered and pampered her entire life. She’s vivacious and impulsive and madly in love with Devon Carter. When Devon asks her to marry him, she’s the happiest woman in the world until, on their honeymoon, she learns that their marriage was the stipulation of a business agreement between her father and Devon. She feels betrayed, and yet, she still loves Devon, so rather than run out, she decides to stay and become the kind of woman Devon needs, even if it means losing herself.
The bottom line: Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss is a story for those times when you need a little more emotional angst and something a little deeper to read. The characters are people you can believe in, care for, and cheer for as they work towards their happily ever after, and breathing a contented sigh when they finally reach it.
This book was provided by netgalley.com in behalf of Harlequin Desire.
October 2, 2018
Ask Margo advice column excerpt:
Dear Margo, I am pregnant for the first time and realizing that the father is a complete fraud devoid of any decent human emotions. I really love him, though, so I'm going to try to change myself into the automaton he says he wants. Signed Expecting
Dear Expecting Him to Change His Behavior,
Dump him. You don't need him, and all the toxic behavior isn't good for your health. Meh, who am I kidding, you have doormat written all over you -- you're not going anywhere. In that case, I suggest trying to throw up on him every time you have morning sickness. It can be done with a little planning. If you succeed, treat yourself to some pretty jewelry or a gigolo or something.
Aim well,
Margo
Dear Margo, I am pregnant for the first time and realizing that the father is a complete fraud devoid of any decent human emotions. I really love him, though, so I'm going to try to change myself into the automaton he says he wants. Signed Expecting
Dear Expecting Him to Change His Behavior,
Dump him. You don't need him, and all the toxic behavior isn't good for your health. Meh, who am I kidding, you have doormat written all over you -- you're not going anywhere. In that case, I suggest trying to throw up on him every time you have morning sickness. It can be done with a little planning. If you succeed, treat yourself to some pretty jewelry or a gigolo or something.
Aim well,
Margo
July 4, 2017
I hate to say it, but I love this book.
Ashely is a sweet bubbly verging on airhead heroine who adores Mr. Stick up his Derriere Devon with an eye on the prize. Watching Ashley reel in horror over the MoC her father sets up with the man she loves is somehow enjoyable, and that is so sick.
Maya Banks has quite the varied style, and I love all of her Pregnancy/Passion books. I don't know what it is about the huge misunderstanding that I love, but there you go.
Ashley finally figures out she has a backbone and uses it. Devon does a nice job groveling after Ashley dumps his sorry self.
Re-Read
I am embarrassed how much I like this silly, frivolous little romance. Maya Banks re-released this as Tempted which is a significantly less ridiculous title than Tempted by her Innocent Kiss, but the story is still little girl, pink pony romance.
For whatever reason, I love the angst, and I like Ashley's transformation.
Ashely is a sweet bubbly verging on airhead heroine who adores Mr. Stick up his Derriere Devon with an eye on the prize. Watching Ashley reel in horror over the MoC her father sets up with the man she loves is somehow enjoyable, and that is so sick.
Maya Banks has quite the varied style, and I love all of her Pregnancy/Passion books. I don't know what it is about the huge misunderstanding that I love, but there you go.
Ashley finally figures out she has a backbone and uses it. Devon does a nice job groveling after Ashley dumps his sorry self.
Re-Read
I am embarrassed how much I like this silly, frivolous little romance. Maya Banks re-released this as Tempted which is a significantly less ridiculous title than Tempted by her Innocent Kiss, but the story is still little girl, pink pony romance.
For whatever reason, I love the angst, and I like Ashley's transformation.
September 28, 2021
High angst level and one of the best heroine ever.
The hero is our usual romance hero, rich, handsome and charming but very, utterly dumb as regards feelings. He’s also very ambitious and when the heroine’s father asks him to marry his daughter for a merger with his company the hero accepts.
The girl is beautiful, naive and lovely so why should he complain?
Of course he has to court her properly and make her fall in love with him but it’s quite easy since he’s an accomplished womanizer.
She’s in love with him and when he proposes she’s on cloud nine.
Actually the seduction part when he proposes is really good, so we can’t blame the poor girl if she thinks he’s also in love with her even if the words are never said…
Then, accidentally during their wedding night she finds out how things really stand.
When the hero doesn’t deny and also tells her he doesn’t love her she’s shattered (me too)
Then, to make things worse, he tells her she’s too emotional and always wears her heart on her sleeve and this can only brings her pain.
She feels rejected, all her dreams shattered, but decides to give her marriage a chance, even if it means that she has to change herself to please him.
The following weeks she tries to be more reserved and less emotional, dressing appropriately, cooking for him, but eventually she understands that this is not right, she deserves a man who loves her as she is and doesn’t want to change her. She’s pregnant and doesn’t want to live in a loveless marriage, so she leaves him.
Meanwhile the dumbass is slowly understanding that he misses her old self, with her affectionate and spontaneous ways, her pone calls every moment of the day, and finally (thank god) he understands he’s so in love with her and he’s not worthy of her love.
So, with the help of one of his friends, decides to show her how much he loves her.
The end could have been a little more, yes, he apologizes and declares his love and supports her animal shelter and buys her a house just like she wanted, complete with her two favorite dogs, but anyway he keeps his merger with her father so no, that was not enough for me; to show he really loved her he should have given up the merger with her father.
What a nice girl the heroine is. She’s a caring and loving person, who helps an animal shelter and is gentle and kind to everyone.
Everyone loves her because she really has a kind heart, so it was really cruel what the hero did to her. We also know his thoughts so we know he wasn’t really happy to marry her and he did it only because he was interested in her father’s business, even if eventually he says he loved her at first sight.
The way she copes with his betrayal is very moving, she’s such a beautiful person and I hated the stupid man for what he did to her. He really did not deserve her.
I enjoyed it because there is much angst and because he’s so stupid that eventually I also believed what he said about not recognizing his feelings…
The hero is our usual romance hero, rich, handsome and charming but very, utterly dumb as regards feelings. He’s also very ambitious and when the heroine’s father asks him to marry his daughter for a merger with his company the hero accepts.
The girl is beautiful, naive and lovely so why should he complain?
Of course he has to court her properly and make her fall in love with him but it’s quite easy since he’s an accomplished womanizer.
She’s in love with him and when he proposes she’s on cloud nine.
Actually the seduction part when he proposes is really good, so we can’t blame the poor girl if she thinks he’s also in love with her even if the words are never said…
Then, accidentally during their wedding night she finds out how things really stand.
When the hero doesn’t deny and also tells her he doesn’t love her she’s shattered (me too)
Then, to make things worse, he tells her she’s too emotional and always wears her heart on her sleeve and this can only brings her pain.
She feels rejected, all her dreams shattered, but decides to give her marriage a chance, even if it means that she has to change herself to please him.
The following weeks she tries to be more reserved and less emotional, dressing appropriately, cooking for him, but eventually she understands that this is not right, she deserves a man who loves her as she is and doesn’t want to change her. She’s pregnant and doesn’t want to live in a loveless marriage, so she leaves him.
Meanwhile the dumbass is slowly understanding that he misses her old self, with her affectionate and spontaneous ways, her pone calls every moment of the day, and finally (thank god) he understands he’s so in love with her and he’s not worthy of her love.
So, with the help of one of his friends, decides to show her how much he loves her.
The end could have been a little more, yes, he apologizes and declares his love and supports her animal shelter and buys her a house just like she wanted, complete with her two favorite dogs, but anyway he keeps his merger with her father so no, that was not enough for me; to show he really loved her he should have given up the merger with her father.
What a nice girl the heroine is. She’s a caring and loving person, who helps an animal shelter and is gentle and kind to everyone.
Everyone loves her because she really has a kind heart, so it was really cruel what the hero did to her. We also know his thoughts so we know he wasn’t really happy to marry her and he did it only because he was interested in her father’s business, even if eventually he says he loved her at first sight.
The way she copes with his betrayal is very moving, she’s such a beautiful person and I hated the stupid man for what he did to her. He really did not deserve her.
I enjoyed it because there is much angst and because he’s so stupid that eventually I also believed what he said about not recognizing his feelings…
February 8, 2012
I've been thoroughly enjoying the "Pregnancy and Passion" series and the third book doesn't disappoint.
Ashley's has been waiting for the right man and the right moment, and she believes "it didn't get any more perfect than Devon Carter right here, right now." But what Ashley doesn't know is that her seduction has been carefully planned by Devon, as part of a business merger with her father. When she learns the truth after their wedding, Devon tries to convince her to be "sensible" and "grown up" about the situation, leaving Ashley believing that not only has he been using her, he doesn't think much of her, either.
Rather than lose the man she loves and face further humiliation. Ashley decides to see if she can save her marriage by changing herself into the wife Devon wants... no matter what the cost.
Banks is very good at taking a familiar, dramatic, category romance set-up and then fleshing it out emotionally so it doesn't feel stale and dated. Ashley's journey from naive optimism to disillusionment to discovering her own value is deliciously angsty, but also plausible and authentic. There's learning and growth for both characters, though I would have liked to have seen a little more from Devon's point of view. I also found his doting hero role overdone: things like adjusting her scarf and cap for her so she won't be cold make him a little too queasily fatherly. But his suffering over the pain he's caused Ashley and his efforts to make it up to her help make this a delightfully cathartic read.
(reviewed from e-arc via netGalley)
Ashley's has been waiting for the right man and the right moment, and she believes "it didn't get any more perfect than Devon Carter right here, right now." But what Ashley doesn't know is that her seduction has been carefully planned by Devon, as part of a business merger with her father. When she learns the truth after their wedding, Devon tries to convince her to be "sensible" and "grown up" about the situation, leaving Ashley believing that not only has he been using her, he doesn't think much of her, either.
Rather than lose the man she loves and face further humiliation. Ashley decides to see if she can save her marriage by changing herself into the wife Devon wants... no matter what the cost.
Banks is very good at taking a familiar, dramatic, category romance set-up and then fleshing it out emotionally so it doesn't feel stale and dated. Ashley's journey from naive optimism to disillusionment to discovering her own value is deliciously angsty, but also plausible and authentic. There's learning and growth for both characters, though I would have liked to have seen a little more from Devon's point of view. I also found his doting hero role overdone: things like adjusting her scarf and cap for her so she won't be cold make him a little too queasily fatherly. But his suffering over the pain he's caused Ashley and his efforts to make it up to her help make this a delightfully cathartic read.
(reviewed from e-arc via netGalley)
January 2, 2016
4.5 stars
I was excited to be able to preview this third installment in Maya Banks’ Pregnancy and Passion series. The first two installments were solid 4 star reads for me, but this is my favorite so far.
Ashley has a pure, sweet, vivacious personality and her excitement in finding her dream man was a joy to experience. Of course, there would not a story if everything stayed on that path. Devon courts and proposes to her in order to seal a lucrative deal with her father’s corporation. The world is all roses until Ashley accidentally discovers his deceit on their wedding night.
It’s a story that’s been done before, but her decision to stay with him and try to make the marriage work gave the story that angsty goodness that I like. She loves him despite his deceit and revelation that he considers her flighty and frivolous. She decides to make herself over into a woman that he could love.
The real Ashley begins to disappear along with her zest for life. Devon seems oblivious to the changes in her. With the discovery of her pregnancy, comes the revelation that she deserves to be loved for herself.
When she leaves Devon and moves in with her friend, he suddenly realizes that he had lost what he needed to make his life complete. I deducted .5 stars because I just wanted a bit more anguish from Devon before the HEA.
Anxiously awaiting the fourth book!
This e-book ARC was graciously provided by NetGalley
--------------------------------
Jan 2016 - Update: Audiobook - 4 stars
I was excited to be able to preview this third installment in Maya Banks’ Pregnancy and Passion series. The first two installments were solid 4 star reads for me, but this is my favorite so far.
Ashley has a pure, sweet, vivacious personality and her excitement in finding her dream man was a joy to experience. Of course, there would not a story if everything stayed on that path. Devon courts and proposes to her in order to seal a lucrative deal with her father’s corporation. The world is all roses until Ashley accidentally discovers his deceit on their wedding night.
It’s a story that’s been done before, but her decision to stay with him and try to make the marriage work gave the story that angsty goodness that I like. She loves him despite his deceit and revelation that he considers her flighty and frivolous. She decides to make herself over into a woman that he could love.
The real Ashley begins to disappear along with her zest for life. Devon seems oblivious to the changes in her. With the discovery of her pregnancy, comes the revelation that she deserves to be loved for herself.
When she leaves Devon and moves in with her friend, he suddenly realizes that he had lost what he needed to make his life complete. I deducted .5 stars because I just wanted a bit more anguish from Devon before the HEA.
Anxiously awaiting the fourth book!
This e-book ARC was graciously provided by NetGalley
--------------------------------
Jan 2016 - Update: Audiobook - 4 stars
September 19, 2023
Nothing good to say about this book
February 10, 2022
Reread 2/10/2022
I have no clue why this needed a reread.
I also hate to admit I like it. She’s such a nice girl, sweet, bubbly, happy and he rips her heart out and tries to change her. So much angst. He’s such a putz.
She has no clue that she’s part and parcel to a business deal between her father and the hero. Daddy wants her happy and truly thinks the hero is perfect for her. Hero isn’t ready for a real relationship or marriage. She falls in love, he’s happy about his business deal. In his mind he nitpicks at her bubbly sweet personality.
And, on their wedding night she accidentally finds out about the business arrangement. She’s heartbroken, she’s in love and it’s not remotely reciprocated. He tells her they can still have a great marriage, but she needs to grow up.
She tries things his way and is miserable and everyone around him wants to know what he’s done to her.
She can’t do it and leaves. Now, he realizes he’s in love with her.
Go big or go home, that’s the advice he receives to get her back.
And this is why it’s only 3 stars, his big just didn’t do it for me. He’s saves her animal shelter and buys a big beautiful property in Greenwich, so what. He needs to beg, grovel and beg some more, she forgives too freaking fast.
5 star heroine, 1 star moron.
I have no clue why this needed a reread.
I also hate to admit I like it. She’s such a nice girl, sweet, bubbly, happy and he rips her heart out and tries to change her. So much angst. He’s such a putz.
She has no clue that she’s part and parcel to a business deal between her father and the hero. Daddy wants her happy and truly thinks the hero is perfect for her. Hero isn’t ready for a real relationship or marriage. She falls in love, he’s happy about his business deal. In his mind he nitpicks at her bubbly sweet personality.
And, on their wedding night she accidentally finds out about the business arrangement. She’s heartbroken, she’s in love and it’s not remotely reciprocated. He tells her they can still have a great marriage, but she needs to grow up.
She tries things his way and is miserable and everyone around him wants to know what he’s done to her.
She can’t do it and leaves. Now, he realizes he’s in love with her.
Go big or go home, that’s the advice he receives to get her back.
And this is why it’s only 3 stars, his big just didn’t do it for me. He’s saves her animal shelter and buys a big beautiful property in Greenwich, so what. He needs to beg, grovel and beg some more, she forgives too freaking fast.
5 star heroine, 1 star moron.
December 12, 2025
Maya Banks 🇱🇮🇹🇪
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December 9, 2019
H was A level jerk and the angst was extremely high(my heart ached for the sweet h) that's why I liked it very much.
June 21, 2021
2.45 Unpopular Opinion Stars
This is the third book in the Pregnancy & Passion series which follows four friends and business partners: Rafael, Ryan, Devon, and Cameron who knock up girls, and then act like assholes. 🤣 Tempted is Devon and Ashley’s book. We know from the prior 2 books that Devon was being forced-ish to marry Ashley as a merger stipulation made by her father. He wasn’t happy, but also wasn’t the typical "outraged" that we’ve seen in other coerced HP H’s. Unfortunately, Ashley discovers the “negotiations” by accident on her wedding night… because she was twirling around the room with outstretched arms channeling her inner Disney princess when she knocked his laptop off the mantel. After blindly pushing random buttons; she stumbles upon an email from her dad, and her fairytale HEA is shattered.
I didn’t love this for a couple reasons. First, I didn’t like the pacing; we know what’s going on, and we sit around for most of the first half waiting for Ashley to catch up. Secondly, Ashley is annoying AF. It’s no secret silly, childish h’s are NOT my jam, and Ashley is a cross between Cheer Bear and Elmyra Duff. I understand that she needed to be a “free-spirit” so Dev could crush her, but IMO M.B. went a bit too far and transformed her into an 8-year old (spinning around, bouncing, koala bearing everyone, jumpy handclapping, constantly squealing and happy shouting!!!!) which made her angst not really believable. I also think this is why both Ashley & MB switch it up from Dev suggesting she grow up/mature a little…
You’re far too emotional. You wear your feelings and your heart on your sleeve and it’s only going to get you hurt. Maybe it’s time for you to grow up and face the fact that life isn’t a fairy tale. You’re too impulsive. You dash about with no caution and no sense of self-preservation. That’s only going to cause you further pain down the road.”
…to implying that this suggestion was actually him saying he couldn't stand her ways, and wants her to completely change her entire personality/psyche mid-book. Her OTT reaction to this one statement became ridiculous, but we needed her to be a victim. Even though, IMO a 23-year-old should be able to… organize her belongings, clean up after herself, prepare some type of food, use a wine opener, and work a computer. Unfortunately, Devon was not a lot better; I found his character flat, so we’re stuck with two sucky mc’s.
Bottom Line- This didn’t work for me, and much like Enticed by His Forgotten Lover, I felt like the plot was manipulated to get us where we needed to go rather than developing it. I found it bizarre that the narrative just flopped, even Dev got onboard with the make-believe notion that he asked her to changed her entire personality. I mean she changed her ringtone on his phone to princess music, and called while he was in meetings and he said nothing to her about it. He never complained how she acted, so it didn't make sense. I’m not sure if it was because she was attempting to not make him too bad, but basing her entire angst on that one conversation was just not believable. He needed to continuously insult her like his HP peers. 😊
This is the third book in the Pregnancy & Passion series which follows four friends and business partners: Rafael, Ryan, Devon, and Cameron who knock up girls, and then act like assholes. 🤣 Tempted is Devon and Ashley’s book. We know from the prior 2 books that Devon was being forced-ish to marry Ashley as a merger stipulation made by her father. He wasn’t happy, but also wasn’t the typical "outraged" that we’ve seen in other coerced HP H’s. Unfortunately, Ashley discovers the “negotiations” by accident on her wedding night… because she was twirling around the room with outstretched arms channeling her inner Disney princess when she knocked his laptop off the mantel. After blindly pushing random buttons; she stumbles upon an email from her dad, and her fairytale HEA is shattered.
I didn’t love this for a couple reasons. First, I didn’t like the pacing; we know what’s going on, and we sit around for most of the first half waiting for Ashley to catch up. Secondly, Ashley is annoying AF. It’s no secret silly, childish h’s are NOT my jam, and Ashley is a cross between Cheer Bear and Elmyra Duff. I understand that she needed to be a “free-spirit” so Dev could crush her, but IMO M.B. went a bit too far and transformed her into an 8-year old (spinning around, bouncing, koala bearing everyone, jumpy handclapping, constantly squealing and happy shouting!!!!) which made her angst not really believable. I also think this is why both Ashley & MB switch it up from Dev suggesting she grow up/mature a little…
You’re far too emotional. You wear your feelings and your heart on your sleeve and it’s only going to get you hurt. Maybe it’s time for you to grow up and face the fact that life isn’t a fairy tale. You’re too impulsive. You dash about with no caution and no sense of self-preservation. That’s only going to cause you further pain down the road.”
…to implying that this suggestion was actually him saying he couldn't stand her ways, and wants her to completely change her entire personality/psyche mid-book. Her OTT reaction to this one statement became ridiculous, but we needed her to be a victim. Even though, IMO a 23-year-old should be able to… organize her belongings, clean up after herself, prepare some type of food, use a wine opener, and work a computer. Unfortunately, Devon was not a lot better; I found his character flat, so we’re stuck with two sucky mc’s.
Bottom Line- This didn’t work for me, and much like Enticed by His Forgotten Lover, I felt like the plot was manipulated to get us where we needed to go rather than developing it. I found it bizarre that the narrative just flopped, even Dev got onboard with the make-believe notion that he asked her to changed her entire personality. I mean she changed her ringtone on his phone to princess music, and called while he was in meetings and he said nothing to her about it. He never complained how she acted, so it didn't make sense. I’m not sure if it was because she was attempting to not make him too bad, but basing her entire angst on that one conversation was just not believable. He needed to continuously insult her like his HP peers. 😊
August 18, 2015
The first 30% of the book I sat with a knot in my stomach. Angst is a HUGE understatement! I could not enjoy anything about their courtship and wedding knowing what was really happening. I think I would have preferred to be in the dark, but then we could not have Devon's POV. But his POV did not really make him redeemable so I could have done without.
Then the bottom dropped out and I hated him even more. The things he said...Plus he lived with his head up his ass expecting her to just get over it. What a f'ing asshole!!!
So far in this series, Devon is the least likable Hero, and that is saying something. I really hated what he did to Ashley. And Ashley - she is just so naïve that I find it hard to call her TSTL, even though I did not agree at all with her decision after discovering the betrayal. I am glad she did not fall back into bed with him immediately and even more glad that she eventually stood up for herself. But his act of contrition was not nearly good enough for me. His betrayal was so intentional and callous. Of the three books so far in this series, I believe he is the most unforgivable.
I thought very hard about giving this three stars because I appreciated the story, however, unlike the other stories, there was really no mystery. Devon was just a greedy, heartless DICK and I cannot in good conscious rate him higher.
Safety Gang Safe
Then the bottom dropped out and I hated him even more. The things he said...Plus he lived with his head up his ass expecting her to just get over it. What a f'ing asshole!!!
So far in this series, Devon is the least likable Hero, and that is saying something. I really hated what he did to Ashley. And Ashley - she is just so naïve that I find it hard to call her TSTL, even though I did not agree at all with her decision after discovering the betrayal. I am glad she did not fall back into bed with him immediately and even more glad that she eventually stood up for herself. But his act of contrition was not nearly good enough for me. His betrayal was so intentional and callous. Of the three books so far in this series, I believe he is the most unforgivable.
I thought very hard about giving this three stars because I appreciated the story, however, unlike the other stories, there was really no mystery. Devon was just a greedy, heartless DICK and I cannot in good conscious rate him higher.
Safety Gang Safe
January 29, 2012
This one just didn't do it for me. Mostly because the storyline was a done-deal with hundreds of different variations in between. And there was nothing spectacular with this one either.
Ashley was the daughter of a wealthy businessman with whom Devon had been negotiating for a merger with his own company. And when he was offered the merger with a condition that he take Ashley to be his wife, Devon thought nothing of it and agreed with the terms. Why Ashley's father was adamant to marry her off at the age of twenty three was beyond me. I believe that in today's day and age the word spinsters are very subjective and I'm pretty sure that at the age of twenty three no one is. I always have a bit of an issue with the H/h's age, I'm weird like that (so please don't bitch-slap me).
So all in all, not too great of a read.
Ashley was the daughter of a wealthy businessman with whom Devon had been negotiating for a merger with his own company. And when he was offered the merger with a condition that he take Ashley to be his wife, Devon thought nothing of it and agreed with the terms. Why Ashley's father was adamant to marry her off at the age of twenty three was beyond me. I believe that in today's day and age the word spinsters are very subjective and I'm pretty sure that at the age of twenty three no one is. I always have a bit of an issue with the H/h's age, I'm weird like that (so please don't bitch-slap me).
So all in all, not too great of a read.
March 11, 2024
Devon Carter (billionaire) doesn't really believe in love or marriage, so when he's approached by business tycoon who offers his company up as long as Devon agrees to marry his daughter, he's completely onboard with the idea. He'll do everything to make her love him, except actually love her in return. Ashley (flighty, free spirit) is falling for the handsome man who has spent months courting her. When he finally proposes, she's more that ready to say yes!! She's loved by everyone who meets her and friends are glad to see her getting the man of her dreams.
On their honeymoon, Ashley discovers that the marriage was all part of her dad's scheme to find someone who will take care of her. She agrees to try and be the "mature" wife Devon wants her to be. He's loving the change until it's pointed out how changing Ashley is actually killing all of the great things that made her who she was.
Even though this is part of the Pregnancy & Passion series, the pregnancy is really a non issue for this book. It's barely mentioned.
I still loved the audiobook. Short and sweet.
On their honeymoon, Ashley discovers that the marriage was all part of her dad's scheme to find someone who will take care of her. She agrees to try and be the "mature" wife Devon wants her to be. He's loving the change until it's pointed out how changing Ashley is actually killing all of the great things that made her who she was.
Even though this is part of the Pregnancy & Passion series, the pregnancy is really a non issue for this book. It's barely mentioned.
I still loved the audiobook. Short and sweet.
June 4, 2021
2.5 - my least favourite out of the series
June 1, 2024
➸ 3.5 stars
Tropes:
↬ Spice: 🌶️.5
↬ Contemporary Romance
↬ Dual POV; Third Person
↬ Arranged Marriage
↬ Marriage in Trouble
↬ Grumpy/Sunshine
↬ Age Gap
↬ Billionaire
↬ Betrayal
Ratings:
↬ Initial Intrigue: 3/5
↬ Characters: 3/5
↬ Plot: 4/5
↬ Structure 3/5
↬ World-Building: 2/5
↬ Writing: 3.5/5
↬ Uniqueness/Creativity: 3/5
↬ Overall Enjoyment: 3.5/5
↬ Read: Audio
_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
Surprise, surprise, another unwanted wife/marriage in trouble romance. I have been devouring these like candies lately, and I haven’t gotten bored. Tempted By Her Innocent Kiss is a Harlequin take on this trope that I think could have been really good had it had more page count.
Devon, the MMC is creating a business deal with the FMC Ashley’s father. Ashley’s father wants Devon to court and woo Ashley as apart of the deal before ultimately marrying her—of course without Ashley knowing. Devon does this guilty, and everything goes to plan, at least until Ashley and Devon’s wedding night where Ashley figures out the truth. Ashley, crushed by this revelation, decides it’s time to drop her sunshine persona and learn to be everything Devon has ever wanted in a wife. But Devon is noticing the change in Ashley, and he’s forced to grovel and win Ashley back before she completely leaves him.
The set up for this book sounds perfect, but we are just thrown into the thick of the story. I didn’t know this was a series going in, so maybe we get more Ashley and Devon in books 1 and 2, but we literally start the book with Ashley and Devon getting engaged. I wished we saw more of their relationship from the beginning. There also was virtually no groveling, which is one of my favorite parts of these books. Devon does one big gesture and calls it a day; I just thought this wasn’t a sufficient apology after his deception.
I did enjoy the romance, at least what we got of Ashley and Devon. Devon is very business focused, and is bad with feelings, and he doesn’t even realize how in love with Ashley he is until it’s too late. Ashley is a literal ray of sunshine and loves Devon so much. She does sweet gestures for him, calls him at work, and tries to be a perfect wife for him. She was such a sweetheart and I really hated seeing her get so hurt by Devon which surprisingly is not something I’ve felt reading a lot of this trope. The FMC’s are usually at fault too, but Ashley is so cute I just really couldn’t help feeling sad for her. I loved seeing their dynamic play out, especially when they were quite literally polar opposites. Seeing Devon fall in love with Ashley was just so damn cute too. His thoughts of her were just short of worshipful.
My main complaint about this is the length once again. I just needed more. I needed more background on Ashley and Devon, I needed a bigger grovel from Devon, and I needed some more character growth for Ashley. I really like the bare bones of what we got, but I wanted more, and honestly needed more for me to rate this higher. However I know I’m speaking to the void as this is a Harlequin book (which are notoriously known for their short romances) and Maya Banks has unfortunately not written anything for almost 10 years…
Still an entertaining and fun read, and I’ll definitely be going back to books 1 and 2 for the first 2 couples (because the drama in those also looks A+).
* * *
If only it was longer :( RTC
Tropes:
↬ Spice: 🌶️.5
↬ Contemporary Romance
↬ Dual POV; Third Person
↬ Arranged Marriage
↬ Marriage in Trouble
↬ Grumpy/Sunshine
↬ Age Gap
↬ Billionaire
↬ Betrayal
Ratings:
↬ Initial Intrigue: 3/5
↬ Characters: 3/5
↬ Plot: 4/5
↬ Structure 3/5
↬ World-Building: 2/5
↬ Writing: 3.5/5
↬ Uniqueness/Creativity: 3/5
↬ Overall Enjoyment: 3.5/5
↬ Read: Audio
_________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
Surprise, surprise, another unwanted wife/marriage in trouble romance. I have been devouring these like candies lately, and I haven’t gotten bored. Tempted By Her Innocent Kiss is a Harlequin take on this trope that I think could have been really good had it had more page count.
Devon, the MMC is creating a business deal with the FMC Ashley’s father. Ashley’s father wants Devon to court and woo Ashley as apart of the deal before ultimately marrying her—of course without Ashley knowing. Devon does this guilty, and everything goes to plan, at least until Ashley and Devon’s wedding night where Ashley figures out the truth. Ashley, crushed by this revelation, decides it’s time to drop her sunshine persona and learn to be everything Devon has ever wanted in a wife. But Devon is noticing the change in Ashley, and he’s forced to grovel and win Ashley back before she completely leaves him.
The set up for this book sounds perfect, but we are just thrown into the thick of the story. I didn’t know this was a series going in, so maybe we get more Ashley and Devon in books 1 and 2, but we literally start the book with Ashley and Devon getting engaged. I wished we saw more of their relationship from the beginning. There also was virtually no groveling, which is one of my favorite parts of these books. Devon does one big gesture and calls it a day; I just thought this wasn’t a sufficient apology after his deception.
I did enjoy the romance, at least what we got of Ashley and Devon. Devon is very business focused, and is bad with feelings, and he doesn’t even realize how in love with Ashley he is until it’s too late. Ashley is a literal ray of sunshine and loves Devon so much. She does sweet gestures for him, calls him at work, and tries to be a perfect wife for him. She was such a sweetheart and I really hated seeing her get so hurt by Devon which surprisingly is not something I’ve felt reading a lot of this trope. The FMC’s are usually at fault too, but Ashley is so cute I just really couldn’t help feeling sad for her. I loved seeing their dynamic play out, especially when they were quite literally polar opposites. Seeing Devon fall in love with Ashley was just so damn cute too. His thoughts of her were just short of worshipful.
My main complaint about this is the length once again. I just needed more. I needed more background on Ashley and Devon, I needed a bigger grovel from Devon, and I needed some more character growth for Ashley. I really like the bare bones of what we got, but I wanted more, and honestly needed more for me to rate this higher. However I know I’m speaking to the void as this is a Harlequin book (which are notoriously known for their short romances) and Maya Banks has unfortunately not written anything for almost 10 years…
Still an entertaining and fun read, and I’ll definitely be going back to books 1 and 2 for the first 2 couples (because the drama in those also looks A+).
* * *
If only it was longer :( RTC
January 20, 2012
I have to say I loved this book the most of the 3 I read so far, which is really saying something since I really hated Devon at the beginning. I understood that this was to him simply a business deal but I knew he felt something for Ashley even though he acted so cold. What I enjoyed most was the emotion in this book, the kind of emotion that I think Maya Banks is known for! When Ashley discovers, on their wedding night no less, that her marriage to the man she loves was simply a business deal it completely breaks her heart. It broke my heart to watch her try to be someone else, someone Devon thought she should be, prim and proper, the good little wife. Only to find out that he was already in love the with the impulsive, happy, wear your emotions on her sleeve woman that she always was. It was a joy watching Devon realize his love and grovel for the wonderful woman that he married.
This is a sweet romantic series and I recommend it to anyone that loves a good romance story!!
***This book was provided to me as and ARC from Netgalley
This is a sweet romantic series and I recommend it to anyone that loves a good romance story!!
***This book was provided to me as and ARC from Netgalley
September 3, 2022
I loved this one! This trope is my total jam though. I love when the h is in love and the H is in denial and hurts her because of it. So so good. His grand gestures and grovel were so sweet.
Overall: 4.5
Overall: 4.5
December 11, 2019
This story was hard. It was hard to read and it's hard to review without blowing up. If you like books where the hero is an absolute a$$hole and doesn't get his head out of his a$$ then this story is for you. I mean one thing I can say about the hero is once the heroine finds out the truth, that her father and new husband conspired a business deal with her as the main event, he never lied to her anymore. I mean she asked him point blank if he loved her on their wedding night and he said "NO." It was brutal. I am a sucker for these types of books and no matter how enraged I become, particularly with this series of Asshole men, I come back and re-read them. If there is one thing I enjoy incessantly in these types of books is how the heroine reacts and hopefully makes the hero finally work, suffer and earn her. Sadly I really didn't get that with the heroine and on their honeymoon night when she finds out the truth, she decides her pride won't let her divorce him and will change because she wants to make him love her. In doing so will she become the type of woman he wants. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!?!?! Oh hell no! But you know what she did, for weeks she put on a show, losing herself in the process. I would think a woman's pride would stop her from staying in a situation like this. I mean come on, he even lists all these traits of hers that he sees are immature and flighty. Nope I'm sorry I'm OUT!!! But nope she waits until she finds out she is pregnant to put her big girl panties on. She tells him the truth and leaves him for 3 DAYS, three days...... He has a sudden turn of the heart and realized he did love her and would have to get her back. (In his defense there are many instances where he is sweet with her. He's caring but he's also judgmental and it made me uncomfortable.) A few good gestures and she forgives him just like that. I don't know I'm just so let down mostly by the heroine I mean come on woman, make him work for it, even a little. The only thing maybe that would have helped would be a epilogue. An epilogue we don't get. It's sad because some books don't need an epilogue. We feel the passion and truly believe the MCs will get their HEA. But this time around that is so not the feeling I am getting. Whatever, their happy in their fictional little world so good for them. I'm off to find a less frustrating book with a heroine who has a giant set of take no shit balls :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2023
I’m not finished but I really just couldn’t take it anymore. I will finish it but I’m completely disinterested in a story about a sheltered wealthy spoiled FMC who when unhappy gets debilitating migraines, who is childish and naive, who is loved by all because of her exuberant personality. She is described like a four year old child who still believes in fairytales. She works at an animal shelter that her “wealthy” family doesn’t donate a dime to, like it’s a hobby. She lives in an upscale family owned high rise in her own condo, but only now @90% does she say she should get a real job because she will have a child to support. I would admire this IF it weren’t for the fact that she has lived her whole life without having to worry about supporting anything. She never learned to cook because she has others to do that for her OR she can afford to eat out and or catered for every meal. I highly doubt she paid for that condo or any expenses involved with it, but the author conveniently glossed over the FMC’s financial status with the MMC’s strategically placed POV about how he never asked her how she supported herself as he would always take care of her moving forward, nonsense. So we the reader are left to speculate, but honestly it isn’t a great leap to assume that her whole life is paid for by her family and then her husband.
What I’m trying to say is this is NOT a relatable FMC. She has never known struggle or strife. She doesn’t even live in the real world enough to actually have a real job that she has to report to regularly and therefore she has no schedule to follow. It’s all whatever she wants whenever she wants it at the tip of her fingers. And yet, she never clued in to a wealthy CEO, in the same line of business as her father, all of a sudden being interested in her. That her father “loves” him instantly. That the MMC NEVER said he loved her before getting married. He never reciprocated her forms of affection in nearly any way. She would bounce on to him or in front of him like an excited toddler or a chihuahua! And she never noticed his reservedness in nearly all ways with her. All she saw was her Prince Charming, catering to all her wants and desires, every boo-boo she had he treated her like a child who needed to be put to bed and petted her hair. Rubbing her tummy and kissing her nose, was all that was missing in his behavior!
I got to 28% and was just disgusted with how weak the author made this FMC. I waited to see when the betrayal was going to happen and it did around the 49-52% mark. After that, she became a stepford wife wannabe, with NO other recommendation but her own decision that if her husband doesn’t like certain things about her than she would change and that will get him to love her. While I didn’t like that the MMC had said all those things about her, which I agreed with 100%, he didn’t tell her to change anything. All he said was that she needed to grow up. And she did! She absolutely needed to grow the f#€k up! I hated this childish dimbo who was “so sweet” that all of life needed to shine rainbows on the road as she walked it, and she needed to sh!t skittles out of her golden a$$hole. It was annoying to read. I much prefer sweet gentle FMC’s if they are busting their a$$es working sh!t jobs but still somehow have positive dispositions on life, no matter all the excrement thrown at them, throughout it all. That’s more relatable, believable, than this sanctified golden spooned woman/child getting all her dreams coming true unearned.
Anyway, let me explain my other issue with this book. I know the author is trying to show a MMC how was falling for the FMC throughout his courtship of her while he was burdened with keeping the deal hidden from her. Then when it was all out in the open, when they were finally intimate again he felt all those emotions for her in the one s e x session, while still not ready to accept or admit it to himself. HOWEVER, I absolutely disagree that that’s what happened. He was always attracted to the FMC, yes. But, he only fell in love with her when she started changing herself and she was doing all these not crazy things, to please him. She contained her childish responses, she stopped screaming in a roomful of people whenever she was excited or happy about anything, she cleaned up after herself, as all adult people should!! He saw it happening but he was as happy as a pig in poop because his claim that they could have a comfortable marriage was being made reality and THAT’S when he fell in love. The FMC was proving him right and his ego was happy enough to embrace love for the FMC who he thought was a sexy immature child/woman.
Having said that, the FMC at the 87% mark decides to leave the marriage ONLY because she now realizes that everyone will intuit that her marriage was an arrangement made by her father as the deal for the company has been announced. She decided to end her marriage because of embarrassment and for no other reason. The FMC is now claiming to have dignity, when nearly 30% of the book is post finding out her father sold her with the company and bought her a husband. I mean the entire book before that shows how desperate and delusional she was to love this handsome, rich, wannabe Prince Charming, that she blindly married him without any real questions. Yeah, I never saw any dignity or self respect from her on any page of this book.
I want to believe that she has found some inner strength and is finally going to stand her ground and make a realistic attempt to live her life on her own. But, three days after the FMC walked out, at the 90% mark, is when the MMC is on her doorstep, (not even her doorstep, she is staying in her cousins house, again not being all that mature as her friend is taking care of her needs), and she is going to fall for the charm/con that got her the first time, because the MMC finally shows up with a truck full of her shoes. Ewww.
Personal note here, this obsession people, women, men, god for all I know, have with women’s shoes is just gross to me. The fact that if you are one of these types of people, that everyone you know has to be as obsessed about YOUR shoes as you are is also gross. Not shoes in general but YOUR personal, already owned shoes. Eww. Idc, how much I love someone, if you come to me with a truck full of my shoes, no matter how thoughtful or considerate you were trying to be, just ewww. You pick a pair out of all of them that can be used for all occasions and keep it moving. Be practical not just weird about it.
Anyway, this is the point where the wall of the FMC cracks because of this weird gesture by the MMC. Not like this bubblehead had any kind of real wall to begin with. If it was more than tissue paper strength I’d keel over in shock. The three little pigs wouldn’t have needed to huff and puff at all to take this FMC’s wall down. The tiniest gust of wind a wave of their hand would have made would have knocked down her wall of dignity like a hurricane gale force, she was so easy. Hence, another nail in the FMC’s weakness of character coffin.
So the shoe thing is where I was just done. It was such a silly plot device to get an in with the FMC so it can lead to the HEA I won’t believe. Yeah, not a romance imo. It’s definitely fantasy but not a very good one. It’s too short for this story to really work. But what’s worse is that this is an old fashioned dated plot line. Years ago, I might have been entertained by this. Even annoyed, I would have liked the fast pace. But I would have hated that the grovel and HEA would have happened in the last ten pages. It’s not enough time to see them work it out together. All the lead up only to cut the reader off for the real work for a real HEA. Again, this is old style writing patterns. Just mildly, poorly executed.
FINAL UPDATE
So I was right, the grovel and HEA happened not in the last ten pages, but the last two. The MMC gives the FMC a house couple of dogs and that all important three little words, and that is it. No work done, just the arrival of Santa clause in the shape of the MMC. Smdh. The book ends at the 95% mark and then it’s a sneak peek for some other authors book. No epilogue either. I will never read this book again for all of the above stated reasons. Good luck.
What I’m trying to say is this is NOT a relatable FMC. She has never known struggle or strife. She doesn’t even live in the real world enough to actually have a real job that she has to report to regularly and therefore she has no schedule to follow. It’s all whatever she wants whenever she wants it at the tip of her fingers. And yet, she never clued in to a wealthy CEO, in the same line of business as her father, all of a sudden being interested in her. That her father “loves” him instantly. That the MMC NEVER said he loved her before getting married. He never reciprocated her forms of affection in nearly any way. She would bounce on to him or in front of him like an excited toddler or a chihuahua! And she never noticed his reservedness in nearly all ways with her. All she saw was her Prince Charming, catering to all her wants and desires, every boo-boo she had he treated her like a child who needed to be put to bed and petted her hair. Rubbing her tummy and kissing her nose, was all that was missing in his behavior!
I got to 28% and was just disgusted with how weak the author made this FMC. I waited to see when the betrayal was going to happen and it did around the 49-52% mark. After that, she became a stepford wife wannabe, with NO other recommendation but her own decision that if her husband doesn’t like certain things about her than she would change and that will get him to love her. While I didn’t like that the MMC had said all those things about her, which I agreed with 100%, he didn’t tell her to change anything. All he said was that she needed to grow up. And she did! She absolutely needed to grow the f#€k up! I hated this childish dimbo who was “so sweet” that all of life needed to shine rainbows on the road as she walked it, and she needed to sh!t skittles out of her golden a$$hole. It was annoying to read. I much prefer sweet gentle FMC’s if they are busting their a$$es working sh!t jobs but still somehow have positive dispositions on life, no matter all the excrement thrown at them, throughout it all. That’s more relatable, believable, than this sanctified golden spooned woman/child getting all her dreams coming true unearned.
Anyway, let me explain my other issue with this book. I know the author is trying to show a MMC how was falling for the FMC throughout his courtship of her while he was burdened with keeping the deal hidden from her. Then when it was all out in the open, when they were finally intimate again he felt all those emotions for her in the one s e x session, while still not ready to accept or admit it to himself. HOWEVER, I absolutely disagree that that’s what happened. He was always attracted to the FMC, yes. But, he only fell in love with her when she started changing herself and she was doing all these not crazy things, to please him. She contained her childish responses, she stopped screaming in a roomful of people whenever she was excited or happy about anything, she cleaned up after herself, as all adult people should!! He saw it happening but he was as happy as a pig in poop because his claim that they could have a comfortable marriage was being made reality and THAT’S when he fell in love. The FMC was proving him right and his ego was happy enough to embrace love for the FMC who he thought was a sexy immature child/woman.
Having said that, the FMC at the 87% mark decides to leave the marriage ONLY because she now realizes that everyone will intuit that her marriage was an arrangement made by her father as the deal for the company has been announced. She decided to end her marriage because of embarrassment and for no other reason. The FMC is now claiming to have dignity, when nearly 30% of the book is post finding out her father sold her with the company and bought her a husband. I mean the entire book before that shows how desperate and delusional she was to love this handsome, rich, wannabe Prince Charming, that she blindly married him without any real questions. Yeah, I never saw any dignity or self respect from her on any page of this book.
I want to believe that she has found some inner strength and is finally going to stand her ground and make a realistic attempt to live her life on her own. But, three days after the FMC walked out, at the 90% mark, is when the MMC is on her doorstep, (not even her doorstep, she is staying in her cousins house, again not being all that mature as her friend is taking care of her needs), and she is going to fall for the charm/con that got her the first time, because the MMC finally shows up with a truck full of her shoes. Ewww.
Personal note here, this obsession people, women, men, god for all I know, have with women’s shoes is just gross to me. The fact that if you are one of these types of people, that everyone you know has to be as obsessed about YOUR shoes as you are is also gross. Not shoes in general but YOUR personal, already owned shoes. Eww. Idc, how much I love someone, if you come to me with a truck full of my shoes, no matter how thoughtful or considerate you were trying to be, just ewww. You pick a pair out of all of them that can be used for all occasions and keep it moving. Be practical not just weird about it.
Anyway, this is the point where the wall of the FMC cracks because of this weird gesture by the MMC. Not like this bubblehead had any kind of real wall to begin with. If it was more than tissue paper strength I’d keel over in shock. The three little pigs wouldn’t have needed to huff and puff at all to take this FMC’s wall down. The tiniest gust of wind a wave of their hand would have made would have knocked down her wall of dignity like a hurricane gale force, she was so easy. Hence, another nail in the FMC’s weakness of character coffin.
So the shoe thing is where I was just done. It was such a silly plot device to get an in with the FMC so it can lead to the HEA I won’t believe. Yeah, not a romance imo. It’s definitely fantasy but not a very good one. It’s too short for this story to really work. But what’s worse is that this is an old fashioned dated plot line. Years ago, I might have been entertained by this. Even annoyed, I would have liked the fast pace. But I would have hated that the grovel and HEA would have happened in the last ten pages. It’s not enough time to see them work it out together. All the lead up only to cut the reader off for the real work for a real HEA. Again, this is old style writing patterns. Just mildly, poorly executed.
FINAL UPDATE
So I was right, the grovel and HEA happened not in the last ten pages, but the last two. The MMC gives the FMC a house couple of dogs and that all important three little words, and that is it. No work done, just the arrival of Santa clause in the shape of the MMC. Smdh. The book ends at the 95% mark and then it’s a sneak peek for some other authors book. No epilogue either. I will never read this book again for all of the above stated reasons. Good luck.
January 10, 2012
Tempted by Her Innocent Kiss is most definitely my favorite out of the Pregnancy & Passion series thus far. Reading anything with unrequited love in it has always been one of my weaknesses. I truly sympathize with Ashley in here because while Devon went into his marriage knowing it was a business arrangement with no rules saying that he should love her, Ashley whole-heartedly loves him and wanted to marry him because he the man that she chosed. This third installment by Maya Banks was heartbreaking and very emotional like the last two but I actually felt a connection in this one.
Ever since the beginning, we have known first hand that Devon was not marrying for love. He's marrying Ashley because of a business arrangement for his company to merge in with her father's. Only... the end result was definitely not what he expected. I honestly believe that Devon had started to fall in love with Ashley little by little without even realizing it. When she found out that their marriage wasa farce, he repeatedly told her that he never wanted to hurt her. But is lying to someone truly a way to start a relationship? No absolutely not. And when Ashley begins to change her personality to become "the perfect wife" to Devon's ideal, things take a turn for the worst.
In the end, to win back a woman's love and trust, there can only be one solution: you either grovel and beg for her forgiveness, you show her that you love her and that you can't live without her, OR you can do both! Which is why, Devon Carter wins the title for Best Grovelling so far... and you shall see! Overall, I definitely recommend this series for anyone who loves Maya Banks, drama, romance, and some good old fashion grovelling! Last but not least:
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for giving me permission to read this ARC!
Ever since the beginning, we have known first hand that Devon was not marrying for love. He's marrying Ashley because of a business arrangement for his company to merge in with her father's. Only... the end result was definitely not what he expected. I honestly believe that Devon had started to fall in love with Ashley little by little without even realizing it. When she found out that their marriage wasa farce, he repeatedly told her that he never wanted to hurt her. But is lying to someone truly a way to start a relationship? No absolutely not. And when Ashley begins to change her personality to become "the perfect wife" to Devon's ideal, things take a turn for the worst.
In the end, to win back a woman's love and trust, there can only be one solution: you either grovel and beg for her forgiveness, you show her that you love her and that you can't live without her, OR you can do both! Which is why, Devon Carter wins the title for Best Grovelling so far... and you shall see! Overall, I definitely recommend this series for anyone who loves Maya Banks, drama, romance, and some good old fashion grovelling! Last but not least:
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for giving me permission to read this ARC!
January 20, 2013
This is the third book in the Pregnancy & Passion series.
Unbeknown to her, Ashly is used as a bargaining ship in a merger between Devon and her father. Devon is reserved and always in control.The complete opposite to Ashly's unreserved nature. Ashly is a wonderful heroine, full of effervescence, too innocent, too naive for her own good. It is so painful to see Ashly's hurt and disillusionment on her wedding night when she discovers that her marriage is build on a big lie. In order to save her marriage she tries to change herself, to restrain some of her enthusiasm. she becomes more controlled, more guarded, less herself. But she has to stop or risks losing herself in the hope to win the love of a man who ll never love her true self.
I loved the group of Ashly's girlfriends. They make a tight knot of unconditional love, moral support and understanding.
Devon acts like a total jerk - nothing new here - but the last thing he wants is to hurt Ashly. He likes to be in control and his emotions are all over the place around Ashly. His tenderness towards her betrays his love even when he refuses to admit it to himself. But when he risks losing the best thing that has ever happened to him, he is willing to beg for Ashly's forgiveness and redeem himself in her eyes.
Unbeknown to her, Ashly is used as a bargaining ship in a merger between Devon and her father. Devon is reserved and always in control.The complete opposite to Ashly's unreserved nature. Ashly is a wonderful heroine, full of effervescence, too innocent, too naive for her own good. It is so painful to see Ashly's hurt and disillusionment on her wedding night when she discovers that her marriage is build on a big lie. In order to save her marriage she tries to change herself, to restrain some of her enthusiasm. she becomes more controlled, more guarded, less herself. But she has to stop or risks losing herself in the hope to win the love of a man who ll never love her true self.
I loved the group of Ashly's girlfriends. They make a tight knot of unconditional love, moral support and understanding.
Devon acts like a total jerk - nothing new here - but the last thing he wants is to hurt Ashly. He likes to be in control and his emotions are all over the place around Ashly. His tenderness towards her betrays his love even when he refuses to admit it to himself. But when he risks losing the best thing that has ever happened to him, he is willing to beg for Ashly's forgiveness and redeem himself in her eyes.
February 11, 2012
So far I liked this 3rd in the series best. There was angst and growth and unrequited love etc. The hero didn't really do right by the heroine and caused unnecessary problems but he wasn't an ass. It was more along the lines of stupid guy mistakes. He treated the heroine well throughout though and the reader could see he felt more for her than he understood himself. The heroine wasn't a wimp but rather a woman in love trying to make it work before she gave up. Very nice read and I'm looking forward to Cam's story. Well written and fast moving. Love scenes were well placed and well done with believable emotion.
I received this from netGalley for review.
I received this from netGalley for review.
March 1, 2012
Wonderful Intense Emotional read,loved Ash very much,Dev was jerk through half the story but when he realizes what has he done my anger melted and my heart went out to him,he really regretted his doings,absolutely loved the way he made up for the wrong he was doing the only thing disappointing thing was "realization about what had happened and what had he done came a little too late" almost at the end i wanted it sooner other then this absolutely loved the book.
Very anxious for Cam's story
Recommend it
Very anxious for Cam's story
Recommend it
December 23, 2012
Straight to my favorites list. I wanted to slap the hero so many times for being so blind and bringing so much drama in their lives but it made the happy ending so much sweeter! Ash was passionate, open and honest nothing like Devon that is. I was so happy when he stopped being a delusional idiot.
April 24, 2017
3.5 stars
May 24, 2017
leído el 02/09/2012
4.5 estrellas
4.5 estrellas
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