Temptation

Series #1

by Kris Bryant

Cassie Miller is broke. Her parents cut off all funding when she dropped out of medical school, and graduate school is expensive. A full-time nanny job at the Wellington estate is the answer to her problems, except working for beautiful, successful Brook Wellington wasn’t in the job description.

Brook has always had a head for business. Born into a global shipping empire, she sits at the helm running it with skill and savvy. But success comes at a cost. Her priority is her six-year-old son, but she can’t be in two places at once. Hiring a nanny isn’t the perfect solution, but it would certainly help, and Cassie came highly recommended. If only she wasn’t so damn attractive.

Can Cassie and Brook deny their growing attraction and keep things professional? Or will they sidestep propriety and give in to temptation?

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, LGBT, Lesbian Romance, Queer, Audiobook, Contemporary

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Podcast with Tara Scott at queerlyrecommended.com

Multi-award winning author Kris Bryant was born in Tacoma, WA but has lived all over the world and now considers Kansas City her home. She received her B.A. in English from the University of Missouri and spends a lot of her time buried in books. She enjoys hiking, photography, spending time with her family, and her dog, Molly (who gets more attention than she does on Facebook).

Her first novel, Jolt, was a Lambda Literary Finalist. Forget Me Not was selected by the American Library Association's 2018 Over the Rainbow book list and was a Golden Crown Finalist for Contemporary Romance. Breakthrough won a 2019 Goldie for Contemporary Romance. Listen won a 2020 Goldie for Contemporary Romance. Temptation won a 2021 Goldie for Contemporary Romance. Not Guilty written under Bryant's pen name - Brit Ryder - won a 2022 Goldie for Erotica. Kris can be reached at krisbryantbooks@gmail or ww.krisbryant.net, @krisbryant14.

Jolt - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Whirlwind Romance - ebook, paperback
Just Say Yes (Novella in the wedding series) - ebook only
Taste - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Forget Me Not - ebook, paperback
Shameless (written as Brit Ryder) - ebook, audiobook
Girl Next Door Anthology - "Dog Day of Summer" - ebook, paperback
Touch - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Breakthrough - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Against All Odds - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Travel Anthology (short by Brit Ryder) - ebook, paperback
Listen - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Falling - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Tinsel - ebook, audiobook
Temptation - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Lucky - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Home - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Scent - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Not Guilty writing as Brit Ryder - ebook, paperback (audiobook in the works)
Always - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Forever - ebook, paperback, audiobook
Stranded Hearts (with Amanda Radley & Emily Smith) - ebook, paperback
Serendipity - ebook, paperback, audiobook

Reviews

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet and enjoyable romance. I mentioned before how I’ve been sick almost all of 2020. I’m finally 95% back to normal but when I was sick I could hardly read. Unfortunately, that means I’m pretty far behind in my ARC reading/reviewing so I had the opportunity to read many reviews about this book before I ever read it. I noticed that the early reviews started out strong, but then they turned into a bit of a mix with many people not caring for or flat out disliking the main character Cassie. I’m a big Bryant fan, she makes my top 5 favorite list of current lesfic authors, so I was really excited about this. I found out after the reviews I was tempering my expectations. But in the end I didn’t need to. While this is not my favorite book by Bryant, (I prefer her more emotional books) I absolutely enjoyed this. Bryant set out to write a fun and flirty book and I think she was absolutely successful in doing that.

The premise is about a 24 year old woman Cassie, who was recently cut off from financial help that takes a job as a live-in Nanny so she can continue going to school for her Masters. Her job is easy watching a cute little boy named Noah, but the job becomes much more complicated when she starts developing feelings for her older boss. Will her boss Brook feel the same or are they bound to be stuck in an employee/employer relationship forever?

As I mentioned above there is a lot of dislike for the characters of Cassie. I’ll be honest, characters in their early twenties are my least favorite to read about. I want characters in their 30’s and later or YA age. I don’t mean everyone (and if you are in your early 20’s reading this review I don’t mean you) but most of us are real PITA’s in our 20’s. We thought we were all grown up when we actually hardly knew anything, so not my favorite age for characters. Due to the complaints and plain dislike for Cassie, I was prepared to feel the same….but I didn’t. I feel like I read a different book than most people. I don’t get the Cassie hate at all. I mean yes, Brook is a much more interesting character. She’s more established, has more of a background history, and is a baby ice queen which I always enjoy in romances. And I think Brook would have made a more interesting choice to be in her POV, but I don’t blame Bryant for wanting to try to write in the voice of a younger character. And in the end I just could not see anything wrong with Cassie. A few people complained that single Cassie flirted with attractive, nice, and seemingly intelligent women. She’s 24 and single, why would she not flirt her ass off? Some people accused her of acting entitled because she was upset her parents were not helping her with school or living expenses anymore. If you were 24 and your parents cut you off financially out of the blue because you wanted to be a scientist, would you not be hurt? It’s not like she wanted to be a wandering minstrel player hoping to amuse the Queen, instead she’s trying for a good career. And really these are wealthy people problems that she’s allowed to have coming from that kind of family. That’s her character’s background and she doesn’t know any different. It’s just interesting to see the different opinions on a character I found basically harmless.

I only really had two baby issues that bothered me. One, I can’t believe Cassie’s parents let Nana (grandma) drive that death trap of a car. I didn’t think that was believable because even if Nana was being stubborn, you just set fire to the car in the middle of the night and get her a new one. Secondly, I just don’t like the name Brook. I need the “E”, I need Brooke. I kept calling her Brock the whole book becuase my brain refused to read it any other way. As you can see these are very important issues I had… yeah basically no real issues.

I enjoyed the romance. While the chemistry was a little more subdued than normal for a Bryant book, the heat from the sex scenes just kept building and building. The sex was used to really connect the characters and after that I believed in them as a potential couple. I do want to mention this book is more on the low angst side. With all the Cassie complaints I expected something more to happen, but no, just a little push-pull and some outside factors, but all in all very low angst.

In conclusion, this was the fun and flirty romance I was hoping for. While I don’t understand the Cassie dislike, I have mad respect for the reviewers that felt that way so there is something going on about Cassie that some people have issues with. This is an easy one for me to recommend to romance fans, just beware; I don’t know what side of the Cassie scale you might fall on.

An ARC was given to me for a honest review.

[Diane Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'

**'I always knew that a good writer is one who keeps what others throw out and then I realized that a good writer is also one who throws out what others keep..'

Compelling read!
With all the overwhelming and glowing interpretations that other readers have posted about this remarkably well written story, I will only add to theirs with just a brief viewpoint. Because everything that has been stated is all that I most definitely agree with.
'TEMPTATION' is both a stirringly written tale of raw attraction, tenderness, passion etc. and an engrossing steamy page-turner about falling in Love and the circle of a family unit.
I must admit that as I got deeper into the storyline and seeing that developing close relationship forming between Cassie & Noah with their playful bantering, this part did start to grow on me in part because of his adorableness and Cassie knowing what he needed as a kid.
There's so much more going on in this book but i'll let other readers words say it all.
Furthermore, I do believe that it will take a savoring and thorough reading of this quirky, charming book to really unearth all things pertaining to Cassie, Brook, Noah, all their families and lets not forget those close friends because this story will tug at readers emotions and even end up being an unforgettable read.

[Corporate Slave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about Emotions! This isn't just a romance! It's a brilliant mix of family, love and sacrifice! While the blurb is not something new, the way the author handled this was very different!

The part that I enjoyed the most was the incredible characters that the author introduced us to! Every single character had a part to play in this incredible read! The family dynamics from both ends made so much sense and you could easily relate to. The beauty of this read is that it tackles so many things and yet nothing fell out!

So, there was the age gap aspect which was done very well, there was the ice queen MC, there was the adorable kid, there was an awesome Grandma that was the glue of one of the families, there was the incredibly rich family and lastly, there was the cute, loving and adorable nanny :)
The chemistry between the MCs was off the chart! The sex scenes were so good and not repetitive at all! You could literally feel how one of the MCs is breaking her walls chapter by chapter! The writing style was so good!
You know it was just one of those books that you really didn't want to see it come to an end!
I would recommend this book to everyone! It will keep you entertained, it will make you feel good, it will make you feel sad, it will make you feel angry. It will just make you FEEL. Kris Bryant is a very talented author that keeps impressing me!

My rating is a solid 5.

"I received and ARC for an honest review."

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Temptation” should be subtitled “Do You Love or Do You Hate Cassie?” Fair warning: I adored Cassie!!!

Many reviewers were critical of MC Cassie flirting and having a date with other women while she was swooning over her employer, MC Brook. IMO, until there was even any discussion of a possible relationship between the MCs, there was nothing wrong at all with her flirting, or even having a relationship with someone else.

As it was, Cassie doesn’t think she has any chance with her beautiful and successful employer, and she also realizes she could lose her job if she were to act on her attraction to Brook. Cassie also backs away from any other relationship (even a hookup) with the other women, as she is meeting them because of her job as well: 11yo Noah’s school teacher, and his music teacher; both in their mid-20s (Cassie is 24yo). She also feels she has no time to devote to a relationship while she is in school, and working full-time as Noah’s nanny.

Cassie estimates Brook’s age at 28yo, btw…only slightly older than herself; in reality, Brook is 38yo, which she learns two months into the job.

I really liked both characters. For me, Cassie is what author Kris Bryant said she was shooting for: a 24yo who acts like a 24yo. She’s self-confident beyond reason, flirty beyond belief, pissed at her parents for cutting her off financially (many families don’t support their children financially after college…some even before), wants to be her own person and takes action to achieve her goals (studying what she wants, and taking jobs to support herself and pay for college). Oh, and she loves kids, is funny, has an effervescent personality, is gorgeous, and tall! I WANT TO MEET CASSIE!!

Brook, to me, is not the Ice Queen that many describe. Yes, she’s focused on work and can be a bit taciturn, but she’s devoted to Noah (she puts him first, ahead of her career) and is nice to Cassie, and even winks at her more than once.

Their relationship is slow burn, and their eventual sex is HOT! Yes, they even discuss being tied up, and they do more than discuss a strapon!

The side characters are generally terrific fun. Cassie’s friend Lacey provides a nice way to learn what Cassie is thinking. Brook’s ex Lauren is….well, an ex more than a second mom for Noah. Brook’s family is remarkably down-to-earth for being wealthy, and everyone loves Cassie….except Brook’s sister Gwen. Gwen provides some fun moments. The only main side character that felt incomplete was Nana. She was Cassie’s confidante, and they adored each other, but Nana warning Cassie to stay away from Brook not only as her employer, but because their family could never mix with Brook’s wealthy family just felt like it was stuck on her to say because Bryant wanted to remind us that Brook’s family was wealthier than Cassie’s. It felt unnatural, given that Cassie’s family wasn’t exactly from “the wrong side of the tracks”, despite her current job as essentially a servant.

There’s lots of similarity between “Temptation” and Jenny Frame’s “Someone to Love”. Both younger MCs are nanny for the older MCs, both younger love children, slow burn and lots of terrific interactions and banter. But I did find Brook much more likable and less Ice Queen than Trent. The narration for both books is also terrific!

So…color me a fan of Cassie, and also of this terrific audiobook! 5*

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd rather have Brook as my nanny.

The plot. Medical school drop out and broke college student Cassie Miller gets hired as the live in nanny to none other than Brook Wellington, COO and Daenerys Targaryen lookalike.

The characters. I can't put my finger on why I didn't really care for Cassie despite the story being told from her POV. She came off as rather bland for lack of a better word. Brook was a more complex character but even though she was called an Ice Queen, I don't consider her one. She's reserved sure but other than that I can't think of another characteristic that would classify her as such.

The writing. This is a tricky one because the story dragged a little in the beginning. There wasn't a lot of time spent between Cassie and Brook and this really affected their chemistry of which there was very little. Soon enough however that problem righted itself and I eventually became fully invested in their relationship.

The special. Brook's family (except her gremlin of a sister) and Cassie's grandmother stole the show several times. It's fairly low in angst and no convoluted break up scenario around the 75% mark. I was a little surprised at how tame the first sex scene was between Brook and Cassie but my god does Kris Bryant ramp up the heat between these two later.

The negative. I hate that I compare this book to her others but I just wasn't as invested in this one and its characters as much. I really don't want to picture the Mother of Dragons when thinking about Brook. I'm still salty about what happened to her character damn it!

The verdict. It's Kris Bryant, her books will automatically make it onto my TBR list. Overall rating for this is a 3,5*.

[Jude Silberfeld-Grimaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a title such as Temptation, I would have been disappointed if there hadn’t been a couple of steamy scenes. No worries, Kris Bryant totally delivered, steam and more.

After reading The Traveling Triple-C Incorporeal Circus by Alanna McFall, I needed something much lighter. The good news is, so did Kris Bryant. As she explains in the foreword, “After writing about a mass shooting, a person struggling with anxiety, and a survivor of a plane crash, I decided to write something flirty and fun”. Mission accomplished. You can always count on Bryant to write endearing and layered characters, even in stories like this one, when most of the angst comes from the not-so-simple act of falling in love.

Cassie Miller is a twenty-four-year-old graduate student whose well-off doctor parents cut her off when she quit med school after her first year to study environmental science instead. Cassie had to cut back on her way of life, move in with her grandmother (the wonderful Nana) and work as a babysitter to pay for school. Things start to look up when multi-millionaire Brook Wellington offers her a job as a nanny (complete with her own apartment, a Range Rover she can drive on her work hours and a salary high enough to pay her school fees). Brook’s six-year-old son Noah is a shy and very sweet boy, and Cassie falls in love with him almost immediately. Now, if only she could refrain from falling for his beautiful and sexy as fuck (I’m quoting) mother as well… Spoiler: she won’t, she’ll fall head over heels for the older woman, and it’ll be magnificent, which is how it goes in romance novels (and sometimes IRL too if you’re really lucky).

I don’t even know where to start on the characters. They’re all excellent, and, except for Brook’s sister Gwen, not monolithic (and even Gwen is believable, as unyielding as she seems). Cassie and Brook are the best, you’ll want to be friends with them. Cassie sees through Brook’s ice queen persona from the start, to the softie whose priority is her son’s well-being. Cassie’s hurt from her quarrel with her parents gives her a sarcastic edge, but she’s really a sweetie at heart, and I love her relationships with her grandmother and with Noah. Brook’s family is rather interesting too, from her parents to her sister and brother (who left the family business to make it on his own as a chef) to her sister-in-law. The smaller characters – Cassie’s best friend, Noah’s teachers, Brook’s ex – feel genuine too.

As I’ve written before, I’m not a big fan of age gap romances. However, I thought it worked really well here. The fourteen-year difference between Brook and Cassie is real but they are both at moments in their life where what they have in common is more important than what they don’t share and I honestly can imagine them building on that.

I needed a lighter read and that’s what Temptation is. The good news is, light can be really good too.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Agirlcandream · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie Miller has disappointed her parents by dropping out of medical school to pursue a career she prefers so they have cut off all financial support. She’s 24 years old, broke and in need of a part time job while she goes to grad school.. A chance for free room and board and a nanny job caring for the son of Brook Wellington seems like a perfect fit. Too bad she can’t stop crushing on her new boss and her adorable kid.

Cassie is a piece of work. She’s young, has her whole life ahead of her and has a very healthy libido. She knows she shouldn’t cross that employee/employer barrier. She needs this job. That she is tempted by her young charge Noah’s teachers is not unexpected. Problem is, Brook seems to be spending more and more time with Cassie and the sparks of attraction make her feel guilty even considering dating other women.

Oh temptation, what a cruel master you are. Wikipedia defines temptation as an immediate, pleasurable urge and/or impulse that disrupts an individual's ability to wait for their long-term goals. I don’t know which is worse, Cassie risking her job with her inability to not lust after Brook or Brook clearly breaking unwritten employer/employee rules of engagement. What’s a girl in love gonna do?

I enjoyed this light-hearted romp through the emotional minefield of temptations too hard to resist. There may be an age and economic gap (although Cassie had been raised in a wealthy home so is not uncomfortable with the exclusive lifestyle the Wellingtons occupy) but it’s clear from the opening scenes that Cassie and Brook are destined to be more than a nanny and working mom. Bryant breathes life into her characters making the reader feel all the emotions they feel, conflicted, enamored and illogical though they may be. Cassie’s grandmother should have her own book she is so well drawn and her few scenes with Cassie make her as memorable as Brook’s shy son Noah.

I may have had some eye rolling moments when every adult female character Cassie meets turns out to be lesbian but that didn’t distract from my eager voyeuristic desire to see Brook and Cassie acknowledge their attraction. This read gave me all the feels. I was laughing, cringing and teary-eyed at various points in this novel and that for me makes it a winner.

ARC received with thanks from publisher via NetGalley for review.

[Gaby LezReviewBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassie Miller’s parents cut off all funding when she dropped out of medical school so she takes a nanny job for millionaire businesswoman Brook Wellington. But when both women discover their mutual attraction, it gets harder not to give in to temptation…

In her acknowledgments, the author says that after writing some pretty heavy books she decided to write something more playful. And she delivered. As in really, really playful. At first sight, this novel follows the cliche of boss-nanny romance but the execution makes it really worth a read. I liked that the author takes her time in building up the leads’ chemistry and turns the heat up slowly, but once the hotness is on, it burns.

People who have read her Ms. Bryant ‘s erotica novella ‘Shameless‘ under the pseudonym of Brit Ryder, know that this author can write intimacy well. This is more a romance than erotica but the sex scenes are as varied and hot as in ‘Shameless’. It’s a step under Meghan O’Brien’s books but it’s nevertheless hot.

Typical of this author, this novel is written in first person from the exclusive point of view of Cassie’s, which provides an aura of mystery around ice-queen Brook, a guarded and enigmatic businesswoman. Even though there is an age gap of 14 years between the main characters, this is balanced well as Cassie is a woman more mature for her age, who maintains the freshness of a person in her 20s. Brook isn’t a larger-than-life ice-queen like Lee Winter’s characters but she is very reserved and cautious and it’s a pleasure to see her thaw in and out of the bedroom.

The cast of secondary characters are very well developed and all are relevant to the plot or subplot. My favourite is Nanna, Cassie’s grandma, who is a spitfire and super funny. Both leads’ extended families help to bring the main characters to life and justify their actions and personalities. Brook’s 6-year-old son is a very well written character and plays the main role in getting the leads together.

Overall, a really hot lesbian erotic romance that won’t disappoint Ms. Bryant’s fans. 4.5 stars.

ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com

[Joc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t escape the feeling that this felt like SwanQueen fanfic which, for me, is not a bad thing. Twenty-four year old Cassie Miller lands a job as the live-in nanny to six year old Noah. Noah is the son of Brook Wellington, heir to an international shipping company. He’s sweet and smart and Cassie finds it easy to relate to him from the outset. Brook, though, is beautiful, cold and always in control.

I don’t mind stories with children in them, especially children who sleep like the dead in their own beds, but so much of the book was about Cassie’s relationship with Noah and not enough interaction between Cassie and Brook. They didn’t talk to each other enough beyond the job stuff and it bothered me. I had some concerns about Cassie’s age and couldn’t figure out why Bryant hadn’t made her just a little older and closer to thirty but that became clearer towards the end.

Bryant writes very good intimate scenes that are hot and beautiful but I often felt they were a bit one-sided with Cassie perhaps being a little taken advantage of.

This is another ARC that took me so long to get to that the audiobook had already been released. I liked the cadence of Brittni Pope’s narration and her voice. Even though it is written in first person from Cassie’s point of view, I liked Brook’s voice much more. My review might seem a little critical but I enjoyed it and probably because Bryant didn’t take the easier options.

Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a great first line. I was hooked from the start.

Cassie decided to go against her parent's wishes and drop out of medical school. They decided to cut her off. In need of money to fund her graduate studies, she takes on work watching children. Brooke runs her affluent family's business while her CEO father makes deals hobnobbing on the green. She is in need of a full time nanny for her son.

I really liked both of these characters. Cassie had a lot of chutzpah, likely inherited from her firecracker grandma. She knew that she didn't want to follow in her parent's medical footsteps and decided to pave her own way despite having to give up their support. Although she was raised with money and privileged, she wasn't above going out and doing the work to achieve her personal goals. Brooke is somewhat of an ice queen but shows glimpses of a softer side when she interacts with her son.

This is an age gap romance, which I am honestly tired of reading. I feel like it must be a lesbian romance mandate for publishing these days. And in the grand scheme of things, I don't think that it enhanced the story in any way as it wasn't a huge conflict. Sure, it was mentioned and there were concerns in there, but nothing truly dramatic enough to make the gap a necessity. Having said all of that, the fact that it wasn't made a big deal was a huge positive and made it so it didn't bother me so much.

There was so much to like about this story, though. The interactions. The tension. The jealousy. I liked how Cassie falls for Brooke's son before she ever falls for Brooke. I love a good forbidden love story. And what is more forbidden than wanting to gain intimate acquaintance of your much younger employee? There was a surprising amount of emotion. Bryant mentioned in her acknowledgement that she was looking to write a flirty novel. I wouldn't categorize this book as that. It was deep, sweet, and felt very real. It even made me cry.

There was quite a bit of steamy sex once things got going. I expected it, so it was OK. I mean... I did read the title and see the cover, after all.

Overall, this was a fun story about two women that can't find a way to deny their mutual attraction, and have an even harder time of denying their growing feelings for one another.

I recommend this to those who like to read about romance, rich-ice-queen-single-mothers, struggling college students who attract everyone, childcare, private schools, estranged family, ski resorts, and video games.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

[Luce · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for Temptation by Kris Bryant

Cassie Miller needs a job. After a year in medical school, she dropped out after realizing being a Doctor wasn’t for her. She decided to go to graduate school for her masters in Environmental Sciences followed by her Ph.D. Unfortunately, her parents, both M.D.s have cut her funding completely when she dropped out of Med School. No car, no stipend, no tuition, and no contact with Cassie. At the moment she is living with her grandmother Nana and driving her old Acura.

Brook Wellington of the Wellingtons wants a live-in nanny for her six year old son, Noah. She offers Cassie a sweet deal – a one year contract, good pay, health insurance, a furnished apartment above the garage and with time to go to her classes. Cassie is hesitant because she has never been a nanny and she has a crush on Brook. Brook is the COO of her family’s worldwide import and export business. Of course, Cassie takes the job plus she is already smitten with Noah.

I recently read a book that I felt there was little chemistry between the two MCs. Not this book! You feel it almost immediately. It goes to show you what a good writer Bryant is because this story is told only from Cassie’s perspective. Confession – Ice Queens are my favorite and Brook is one of the Iciest I’ve met and yet she melts when with her son. I also love age gap romances and this one is14 years (Cassie is 24, Brook is 38). Not a large gap, IMO but a gap nonetheless. It was a good choice that Cassie was from a wealthy family. Although not nearly as wealthy as the Wellingtons, Cassie was comfortable around the entitled and knew how to react or not react when around them.

I’d love to gush more but I don’t want to spoil it. I will say that this book has a relatively large cast but it didn’t feel overwhelming. I do want to give a shout out for Nana, Cassie’s grandmother. Everyone needs a Nana in their lives.

Hmmm… this is definitely in my Top 5 favorite books of the year.

An ARC was given to me by BSB and Netgalley for a honest review

[Loek Krancher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Brook is all business, a no-nonsense woman, successful and very private. For her, Noah is her top priority but she also runs the family business. She can’t be in two places at once. So Brook needs help and she needs stability for Noah. Due to unpleasant circumstances, Cassie's life has become all about finishing college and work. One day she gets a job offer as a nanny. A well-paid job with benefits. Falling for her boss was not in her plans. But the more they spend time together, the harder it is to resist temptation. I loved the closeness of Cassie and her nana and the family dynamics of the Wellingtons. It melted my heart the way Cassie was able to get Noah to open up to her. She was amazing with him. A sweet story with very well done steamy sex scenes and a storyline that has age gap, an instant family, a slow burn romance, a total bitch and so much more. Highly recommended.

[Tiffany Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did you ever read a book by an author and think... "This book is so good, there is no way this can be topped... No way this author can write an even better book".... I'm not sure there are many authors that can keep topping their last book time after time but Kris Bryant sure can.

Temptation has easily become my favorite book of Bryant's (I swear I think that every time a new one comes out). This story is about Brook Wellington... rich, successful, older, ice queen... Brook Wellington and Cassie a College Student who is a Nanny for Brooke's son Noah. There are a lot of emotions and underlying family issues at play. I say this time and time again but I'm not sure there is anyone else who writes a more realistic and perfectly flawed character than Kris Bryant. Temptation is written in the first person of Cassie however, Brook really steals the show. I'm not sure there was ever a point in this book where I thought Brook was going to flake on Cassie or make any wild accusations about their relationship. She's reserved, strong, kind, patient, passionate... I really have no negatives where Brook is concerned. Being a Nanny, I suppose you would expect Cassie to be great with kids but, the way her character interacts with the kids really surprised me. Those interactions and the way she handled situations instantly made me like Cassie.

Secondary characters and relationships with those secondary characters really draw me into a story and Temptation is no exception. From Cassie's grandmother to Brook's son to Brook's sister in law Erica to Brook's evil sister Gwen (and several other family members and friends).. they all fit and play a role for Cassie and Brook. When this story wraps up, you don't feel like there are any loose ends with ANY of the secondary characters. Cassie's grandmother was full of spunk and some of the best dialogue was between the two of them. I will say there was a part that made my cry.. probably ugly cry even. The pacing was perfect and the chemistry is off the charts. The sex scenes are well placed and sexy as hell.

Temptation is not to be missed. Kris Bryant is not an author to miss. You cannot go wrong with any of her books. I highly recommend Temptation especially if you like age gap, ice queen, boss/employee, rich girl/poor girl romances. Bryant is a master of her craft and writes so incredibly well, I cannot wait for the next book to release.

[Corrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Temptation was a fairly angst-free and sweet romance. According to some reviews, there were quite some Cassie haters, but I didn’t find her all that bad. She is young, yes (a 24 year-old is practically a puppy in my eyes) and she let her eyes roam over all the pretty women surrounding her (who wouldn’t?), but I found her actually pretty mature for her age. And she was very good with the children. Besides, she can’t help growing up in an affluent household. Being cut off from the gravy train would be a shock to every young adult.

I was more in tune with the very capable (and older) Brook, however. It would have been nice to have her pov as well, but Kris Bryant obviously wanted Cassie to tell the story and that’s fine, it didn’t really spoil the book for me.

And even when I didn’t see them as a couple at first (even Brook herself wasn’t seeing it), leave it to Bryant to give them oodles of sexual chemistry to make you a believer. So all in all, maybe this was not Bryant at her best, but it was an enjoyable read.

f/f explicit

Themes: Nana, mommy issues, the single nod, Cassie is a puppy, money, live-in nanny, Thanksgiving, ski trip, gaming, Noah is adorable.

4 Stars

* This ARC was provided by Netgalley and Bold Strokes in exchange for an honest review.

[JulesGP · Rating 4 out of 5]

The subject of Temptation by all appearances should be a gateway to naughty happenings. Mega bucks businesswoman Brook Ellington dabbles in afterhours fun with her son’s very attractive nanny, Cassie Miller, who seems to effortlessly draw every woman’s eyes, including that of her boss’s. Understandably, there’s a lot of steamy scenes and longing looks but given that there’s a 14 year age gap, an employee/employer dynamic, and a well-off girl/millionaire girl rift, there’s also plenty of angst in trying to figure out if this is a romp or the real thing. There’s also the richy rich Wellingtons who aren’t too keen on one of their own getting it on with the help, even if she is the moneyed daughter of physicians.

I feel like I’m an outlier here because I like Cassie. She’s a hard working grad student who cares about the children, her family and friends, and most especially her beloved grandmother. Yes, she’s a little immature and petulant but she’s 24! I do wish we had learned a bit more about Brook because other than sex, it’s hard for me to grasp her motivation here. Overall, another good Kris Bryant ride which I enjoyed. 4.25 stars.

[Farah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Addition- 13th January
Yes, I am still a proud Cassie hater. To those who like/love/can relate to her, when I read your thoughts on Cassie, I don't feel at all to continue my voodoo online course, make voodoo dolls of you and perform lobotamy on your dolls, why? Because I respect you. I work with many early 2Os, they are among my best teachers, role models and I hate seeing them being represented in such way. I love you ladies, and I am not going to let a character like Cassie gets between us. Unless we're talking about Amanda Kayhart's Olivia, now that's a different case.

Eulogy From A Reader To An Author
Breakthrough 2O18
Listen 2O19
Fallen 2O19
Tinsel 2O19

I’ve fallen victim to another promising strictly romance. What’s the deal? Am I just incredibly picky or with variety and exposure have I become more in tune with what works for me and what doesn’t? Or who knows, maybe it's a combination of both? The reviews for this books, simply wow and I enjoy every single one of them.. I really feel the love.

After this book, I don’t feel like I connect with the author’s point of view or her writing style. Just like everything else in life, reading is subjective and this just so happens to be one of those times that reader and writer weren’t a good fit.

I.Hate.Cassie, being inside her head made me feel dirty, the parade of beautiful/ gorgeous/ lesbian women to test Cassie's libido was just OTT and telling ALMOST everyone regarding her parents cutting her off, was extremely illogical.

I owe you Ms.Bryant, you gave me and most of my friends, Brynn Coleman.. And I'm not going to jinx it by rereading the book, let the sleeping raccoon lie.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kris Bryant has created something very special with her novel Temptation. She has written a beautiful romance filled with emotion. This story made me cry, and that doesn’t happen very often.

This is a tale of contradictions. The main characters are so different that it’s hard to see how they could end up together. There is an age gap. Brooke is fourteen years older than Cassie. There is a financial gap with Cassie a struggling college student while Brooke is the COO of her family’s multi-million-dollar shipping empire. There is also a class disparity, and even worse, Brooke is Cassie’s boss since she hires Cassie to be her six-year-old son’s nanny. All of these problems should have kept the two apart, but the attraction and chemistry between the two is very strong.
This is also a tale of love; love of family and friends, but most of all, a romantic love that can overcome all the hurdles the two main characters must endure, if they can find the courage to do so. The writing is excellent, as we expect from such a talented author. The characters are easy to connect with, and even fall in love with. The story is amazing, and it is a perfect book to read during this holiday season.

Temptation has my highest recommendation. Just be sure to have a box of tissues close by as you read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Rainbow Reflections: https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/

[Heinerway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh yes, just what I needed now. A warm and fuzzy story. Wonderful!

[Anja · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's all I can say! Finally (after quite an awesome book drought) a wonderfully written story with amazing characters. Experience them yourself, I loved every bit of the story!

[Les Rêveur · Rating 5 out of 5]

All my favourite tropes in one book... I knew right away this was going to be a great book, I just wasn't prepared for how wonderful it actually was.

Check out the full review below:

https://lesreveur.com/2020/01/02/temp...

[Mekeia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm just going to say it, I hate Cassie! I guess that about sums it up.

[Tere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cassie Miller is a struggling student after her parents stopped supporting her when she quit medicine school and started her masters in environmental science. She turned into babysitting, and suddenly finds herself hired as the nanny for Brook Wellington’s son, Noah. Brook is the CEO of the family’s multimillion dollar business and a divorced parent. Oh, and fourteen years older than Cassie. Can the relationship exist despite these common tropes?

So I enjoyed this one a lot. Starting with the narration, first person from Cassie’s POV, which I actually seem to favor. First person works well with this story as it makes Cassie relatable, and keeps Brook an enigma and unattainable. It definitely made me join Cassie in her Brook crush. I have not been reading reviews as I was going to be reading this so have missed on the Cassie criticism, which I’m told centers around maturity? I had no problem whatsoever with the character. She seemed a responsible and genuine 24 year old. There were two of Noah’s teachers that sort of entered the romance possibility and not sure why the author introduced in the first place. However, I wouldn’t call Cassie a player by any means and it helped cement her feelings for Brook in the end. If anything my issue was the age gap as I’m not crazy about the trope.

I have to read more Bryant books. Period. The chemistry was present between the mains and the narration flow was great. I had been struggling with reading, and all of a sudden I wanted to keep knowing about these women and their story. This was a pretty straightforward romance which is fine by me. Not everything needs to be so complicated when people are attracted to each other. There were some family dynamics (imagine that) on both sides that were well managed, although the angst lover in me would have liked to see a bit more on the Wellington argument of a 24 year old gold digger.

One of my favorite things about the book was Cassie’s relationship with Noah. I loved how the author worked on their relationship and made it feel genuine. At times, the children feel merely acceptable with the one main, but one could easily see the bond Cassie and Noah shared. When she said that Noah holding her hand was the highlight of her day, my heart melted a little.

Overall, an enjoyable age gap, nanny to lovers romance. 4.25 stars

ARC generously provided to me by BSB via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I tend to like Bryant as an author. So, I wasn't surprised! It is a sweet age gap romance with a cute kid thrown in for good measure. Lots happen in this book, but it's not too angsty. The sex tho...

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big Kris Bryant fan! I also like age gap romances and rich girl/poor girl romances. Temptation has all of those things, but there is a small twist on the latter. Cassie grew up in an upper middle class family but was cut off from her parents when she decided to drop out of med school and pursue a graduate degree in an area her parents didn't approve of. Brook is the rich older woman in this one. She is under 40 but still much older Cassie. Since this one is told from the viewpoint of Cassie, we see that she is attracted to Brook at the start of the romance. We are unsure about if Brook is attracted to Cassie until the book is well underway. Cassie is ends up getting hired by Brook to be the nanny to her young son and things take off from there.

As I was reading this one, I realized I read a romance very similar to this one. I can't figure out who wrote it and that is still bothering me, but I still enjoyed this one. Brook is a sort of an Ice Queen, but eventually Cassie is able to thaw her out. As I was reading this one, I thought it was going to be a slow burn, but oh was I wrong. The sex is steamy and I found myself reading one of the sex scenes twice because it was that HOT. I really enjoy most of the things about this romance but the aspect that this one was very similar to another romance.

I still give it 4 stars.

This ARC was provided by Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

[F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My dog died yesterday. This is not part of the book or the review - it’s just a note of caution to not go by my review if you were ever in danger of doing so....

This is my nth KB novel. Beautiful first person writing. Fully realised characters. Build up to x% and then sex, with a side of sex, sex for desert and an after dinner/ sex mint of angst.

It was just what I wanted. Nothing much happens. It’s well written. There’s a sort of ice queen. A definite age gap (*sigh. Must we?) and a boss - employee thing.

If you want something fun but not that exciting then go for it.

[Elske · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this romance. As I’ve come to expect from Bryant it was well written. It also had a lighter feeling than her last few books. In her foreword Bryant mentioned that as her intention and I think she succeeded very wel in her aim. I loved all three main characters, Brook, Cassie and Noah, Brook’s son. Though this was a bit of instant love, I still felt there was a nice build up of the relationship between Brook and Cassie. There was virtually no angst, which I appreciate. I recommend this for a nice relaxed read. 4.4 stars.

[Best Lesfic Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute nannies and hot bosses seem to really fire authors’ imaginations for romance with various degrees of success. This one totally kills it giving us the whole aww-shucks wash of romance that kept us smiling long after finishing the book.

Read the full review @ https://bestlesficreviews.blogspot.co...

[Anna Avian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light and fun read without a lot of depth in my opinion. I just didn't like Cassie's personality very much and the story being told from her POV affected my overall interest. The romance was okay but I didn’t feel a great deal of chemistry between Brook and Cassie.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy most of Kris Bryant's books, so when this became available and I noticed it, I jumped on the chance to read it. This is an age gap book with the a 14 year difference and while I usually avoid these types of books I really enjoyed it. Brook's character was written very well and she didn't come off as someone almost 40. I know, I know, what does that mean...I can't explain it. Anyway, Brook, COO of a large corporation, and Cassie, struggling grad student, meet at a soccer game. Brook then requests Cassie to become the live in nanny for her six year old, Noah. I really liked Noah and felt he added a ton to the the story. I'm sure you can figure out where this is going even without reading it but I do believe it is worth the read. I will say however, that while the book is well written and that characters well developed there was still a lot left unexplored or flushed out. I felt the family drama was made a bigger deal than it actually was. I would have liked to know what happened with Anthony, or even with how Cassie's parents might react. Things like that. It seemed once they got together it was over and done. And also there was little to no angst which might have helped the story have more of an impact, for me at least.

[Sapphic Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re into boss/employee dynamics, age gap romance, or rich girl/poor girl tropes, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this one! Personally, I really liked our frosty boss, Brook—she was such a compelling character. But I didn’t feel the same way about Cassie. She had a habit of sexualizing every woman she came across, which got old pretty fast and felt really immature to me.

The plot kept me entertained and most of the characters were interesting, but the romance itself just felt a bit thin. Don’t get me wrong—the steamy scenes are very hot. But I wanted more depth between the characters outside the bedroom.

All in all, I liked the book, just didn’t love it. I'm still glad I read it, though. If you’re looking for something steamy with lots of tropes, this one could be for you.