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Never Resist Temptation
A Woman on the Run
Beautiful, spirited Jacobin de Chastelux would have been the perfect prize for any man . . . but she never imagined one would win her at a game of cards! When she learns that her dissolute, dastardly uncle and guardian had wagered her virtue—and lost—she flees. A cunning disguise and her culinary talents land her in the royal kitchen as a chef. All is well until her uncle is poisoned by one of her desserts. Jacobin must escape again . . . to the home of the very man who won her in that infamous game!
Lord Storrington knows nothing of Jacobin's true identity. All he knows is that things are heating up—and the sparks aren't coming from the stove. A delicious ecstasy tempts the scoundrel and the chef . . . one that can only end with sweet, sweet surrender.
Beautiful, spirited Jacobin de Chastelux would have been the perfect prize for any man . . . but she never imagined one would win her at a game of cards! When she learns that her dissolute, dastardly uncle and guardian had wagered her virtue—and lost—she flees. A cunning disguise and her culinary talents land her in the royal kitchen as a chef. All is well until her uncle is poisoned by one of her desserts. Jacobin must escape again . . . to the home of the very man who won her in that infamous game!
Lord Storrington knows nothing of Jacobin's true identity. All he knows is that things are heating up—and the sparks aren't coming from the stove. A delicious ecstasy tempts the scoundrel and the chef . . . one that can only end with sweet, sweet surrender.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 24, 2009
17 people are currently reading
369 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Neville
27 books515 followersMiranda Neville grew up in England, loving the books of Georgette Heyer and other Regency romances. She lived in Vermont with her daughter and an immensely talented cat, who made a book trailer for her novel, The Importance of Being Wicked. Her historical romances published by Avon include the popular Burgundy Club series, about Regency book collectors, and The Wild Quartet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 20, 2012
Mon dieu, this book is strange. And not in the good, "Wheee! Look at all the crazy things the author threw in here! It's so crazy it's fuuunnnnn!" way either. No, Never Resist Temptation is a typical cookie-cutter Regency romance. Spunky heroine with the self-preservation skills of a blind and deaf puppy, angsty hero with debilitating mommy issues, a card-carrying villain who totally fails at all villain-y things, misunderstandings dropped all over the place, an incompetent Bow Street runner, a shady guardian whose ugly soul is showcased by his fat gut and flabby jowls, French people with French ties to the French revolution, gay pastry chefs. The only thing it lacks is a secret baby plot. Thank you, Miranda Neville for avoiding the secret baby plot. The strangeness of this book has more to do with the writing. The formatting made very little sense, sections and chapters just dropped off abruptly, and sometimes the head-hopping made me dizzy. Oh, and also, the hero got a boner for the heroine when he thought she was a young boy.
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GIFSoup
Some things just can't process.
SUMMARY:
Jacobin Le Oui Oui Bonjour (or as Neville calls it, de Chastelux) ends up working in one of the Prince Regent's households in Brighton as a pastry chef. Naturally, she acquires a job in the kitchen by dressing as a boy. And why is she in such a precocious disguise? Because her Uncle, some baron or other, gambled her away in a card game to the Earl of Storrington. Instead of becoming an unwilling mistress, Jacobin flees to work as a pastry chef. As a boy. It's never revealed if she intends to remain a boy forever, but this is the story as it's told, so go with it. When Jacobin's uncle ends up sick from poison at one of the prince's dinners, she runs again in fear that the authorities will discover her womanly bits and arrest her (for murder, not for the womanly bits). Unfortunately, Fate has decided that Jacobin's only refuge is as a cook named Jane Castle at the estate of the dreaded Earl of Storrington. Fortunately, Anthony, aka Lord Storrington, is a total hottie with a body. He's also an asshat of the first order, but RACHEL, this is a romance. Your heart is supposed to melt. Anyway, stories intertwine and fail to make a lick of sense, but it all comes down to Jacobin and Anthony. Is she too French for his staid English balls? Or will they create a perfect French pastry of love?
Jacobin isn't that bad until she becomes Anthony's personal doormat. He gambled for a PERSON. Who the fuck does that? And who the hell falls IN LOVE with that? Between Anthony's manipulative asshat stylings and the way he mopes around like, "My mommy didn't love me enough because she DIED. She dismissed my favorite nanny. A POX ON ALL THE WOMEN!" Then to read all of the long sections dedicated to his boner over Jacobin as a woman and a boy ... I had no patience for any of this.
I could forgive the ridiculous story, though, because once I climbed out of the fever I was in when I bought it (no joke), I realized that I was in Insta-Romance Avon Land. The story was never going to do anything besides piss me off, and I decided to keep reading for the pure WTF spite of it. Sadly, the disjointed pace of the book and the fragmented sentences made an enemy out of me. Some of the phrasing made me O__o until I was afraid my face would stay that way. For instance, I just turned to a random page in the book and found this: He himself had consumed a couple of those puffy things and raised his glass in a silent toast to the cook. - Page 94. "He himself ..." Then there was the text's aversion to commas: In one way at least the dinner had succeeded beyond expectations. - Page 94. I could do this for days: Waiting crouched in the shrubbery, she shivered with cold, but her information had been correct. Sure, the sentences aren't AWFUL, but they definitely aren't pleasing to the eye or the mind. The only good thing about the abrupt chapter endings was that they saved me from further tediousness described in the characters' conversations or inner-monologues.
At least Neville added some kinky action with the pastries. Granted, that enabled a pathetically awkward moment in which Anthony squeezed a dab of cream on his peen and shocked the hell out of virginal Jacobin. I clutched my pearls a little when I read that. And I laughed. A LOT. She never licks it off, and I'm left to assume that Anthony walked around with pastry cream on his peen for the rest of his days.
[image error]
GIFSoup
Filthy, FILTHY book!
A massive edit could make Never Resist Temptation tolerable. Alas, this is the finished product. Sick Rachel is never allowed to pick out a book again.
[image error]
GIFSoup
Some things just can't process.
SUMMARY:
Jacobin Le Oui Oui Bonjour (or as Neville calls it, de Chastelux) ends up working in one of the Prince Regent's households in Brighton as a pastry chef. Naturally, she acquires a job in the kitchen by dressing as a boy. And why is she in such a precocious disguise? Because her Uncle, some baron or other, gambled her away in a card game to the Earl of Storrington. Instead of becoming an unwilling mistress, Jacobin flees to work as a pastry chef. As a boy. It's never revealed if she intends to remain a boy forever, but this is the story as it's told, so go with it. When Jacobin's uncle ends up sick from poison at one of the prince's dinners, she runs again in fear that the authorities will discover her womanly bits and arrest her (for murder, not for the womanly bits). Unfortunately, Fate has decided that Jacobin's only refuge is as a cook named Jane Castle at the estate of the dreaded Earl of Storrington. Fortunately, Anthony, aka Lord Storrington, is a total hottie with a body. He's also an asshat of the first order, but RACHEL, this is a romance. Your heart is supposed to melt. Anyway, stories intertwine and fail to make a lick of sense, but it all comes down to Jacobin and Anthony. Is she too French for his staid English balls? Or will they create a perfect French pastry of love?
Jacobin isn't that bad until she becomes Anthony's personal doormat. He gambled for a PERSON. Who the fuck does that? And who the hell falls IN LOVE with that? Between Anthony's manipulative asshat stylings and the way he mopes around like, "My mommy didn't love me enough because she DIED. She dismissed my favorite nanny. A POX ON ALL THE WOMEN!" Then to read all of the long sections dedicated to his boner over Jacobin as a woman and a boy ... I had no patience for any of this.
I could forgive the ridiculous story, though, because once I climbed out of the fever I was in when I bought it (no joke), I realized that I was in Insta-Romance Avon Land. The story was never going to do anything besides piss me off, and I decided to keep reading for the pure WTF spite of it. Sadly, the disjointed pace of the book and the fragmented sentences made an enemy out of me. Some of the phrasing made me O__o until I was afraid my face would stay that way. For instance, I just turned to a random page in the book and found this: He himself had consumed a couple of those puffy things and raised his glass in a silent toast to the cook. - Page 94. "He himself ..." Then there was the text's aversion to commas: In one way at least the dinner had succeeded beyond expectations. - Page 94. I could do this for days: Waiting crouched in the shrubbery, she shivered with cold, but her information had been correct. Sure, the sentences aren't AWFUL, but they definitely aren't pleasing to the eye or the mind. The only good thing about the abrupt chapter endings was that they saved me from further tediousness described in the characters' conversations or inner-monologues.
At least Neville added some kinky action with the pastries. Granted, that enabled a pathetically awkward moment in which Anthony squeezed a dab of cream on his peen and shocked the hell out of virginal Jacobin. I clutched my pearls a little when I read that. And I laughed. A LOT. She never licks it off, and I'm left to assume that Anthony walked around with pastry cream on his peen for the rest of his days.
[image error]
GIFSoup
Filthy, FILTHY book!
A massive edit could make Never Resist Temptation tolerable. Alas, this is the finished product. Sick Rachel is never allowed to pick out a book again.
March 14, 2009
3.5 stars. This book reminds me of the old Johanna Linsdey regency books. In fact this one has MANY similarities to 'Say You Love Me' by JL, book 5 in the Mallory series. A light, semi-fluff romance. There are no TSTL moments or big misunderstandings, but there are a few eye-rolling moments. Overall, likeable characters and a light mystery.
August 22, 2011
This was a light, fun read. Jacobin is in a rock and a hard place. Her "loving" Uncle has just sold her to another evil man, Lord Storrington. Before he can take ownership of his winnings, she runs off with the cook. Now she has ended up as a male pastry chef in a royal kitchen. Now another problem has presented itself, as her uncle came up as poisoned with food that came from her very hand. She ends up on the run again. She ends up as pastry chef for tall, blond and sexy Anthony...Storrington.
With luck like hers, she figures she should just turn herself in. However once she experiences some of Anthony's kisses she decides that life might be worth pursuing after all. But again fate seems to play cruel joke on Jacobin and her uncle really does come up dead and this time she is standing over his body red-handed as it were. Can Anthony keep the love of his life out of jail long enough to prove her innocence?
What I thought was fun about the story is Alex wasn't a fan of anything French and didn't really have a sweet tooth...besides little puffy things...oh he does seem to like French kisses. Cute read.
With luck like hers, she figures she should just turn herself in. However once she experiences some of Anthony's kisses she decides that life might be worth pursuing after all. But again fate seems to play cruel joke on Jacobin and her uncle really does come up dead and this time she is standing over his body red-handed as it were. Can Anthony keep the love of his life out of jail long enough to prove her innocence?
What I thought was fun about the story is Alex wasn't a fan of anything French and didn't really have a sweet tooth...besides little puffy things...oh he does seem to like French kisses. Cute read.
September 1, 2018
The story begins with a prologue in which the hero wins the niece of the man he's trying to get revenge on in a card game, but the girl runs away. The uncle is the villain of the piece, and of course the niece is the heroine. She ran away with her uncle's pastry cook to Paris and learned to make fancy French pastry. Now she's come back to England, working as an undercook in the Prince Regent's Brighton kitchen, posing as a young man because the famous French head chef won't work with women. I never understood why she came to England at this time, but whatever. It's a story. And it kicks off when her uncle is poisoned (he lives) by the pudding she made herself. I enjoyed the story. It was a quick, entertaining read full of interesting historical tidbits (like the sale of leftovers from the prince's parties the next morning). I liked it. Good read.
October 21, 2013
Review written couple years ago, when I was a huge fan of historical F/M romance novels :)
Maskarada, słodycze, tajemnica sprzed lat i zemsta.
Anglia, rok 1816.
Anthony, hrabia Storrington wygrywa w karty młodą kobietę. Sam za bardzo nie wie co z tak niezwykłą wygraną uczynić. Dziewczyna jest siostrzenicą lorda Candovera, jak się okazuje, mężczyzny, na którym nasz bohater pragnie się zemścić. Jeśli ktoś się spodziewa, że dziewczyna będzie cierpliwie i potulnie czekać, by dowiedzieć się jakie plany ma jej "właściciel", jest w wielkim błędzie. Jacobin de Chastelux, nie ma najmniejszego zamiaru liczyć na łut szczęścia i dobrą wolę zwycięzcy osobliwej karcianej rozgrywki. Ucieka z domu swego wuja, a Anthony nie musi dłużej zastanawiać się co zrobić w zaistniałej sytuacji.
Mijają trzy miesiące. Bohaterka w męskim przebraniu pracuje w Royal Pavilion jako francuski kucharz, specjalizujący się w przyrządzaniu wykwintnych deserów. To właśnie w takiej odsłonie spotyka się po raz pierwszy twarzą w twarz z hrabią Storringtonem. Mężczyzna ratuje ją z rąk opryszków i, o ile ona jest wdzięczna, o tyle on rozdrażniony owym spotkaniem. Ktoś spyta dlaczego? Ano dlatego, że bohater nie widzi nic śmiesznego w sytuacji, w której odczuwa fizyczny pociąg do szczupłego chłopca (I to po dwuletniej abstynencji.). Niewiele jednak trzeba, tylko kilka zbiegów okoliczności, by Jacobin aka Jacob została zmuszona do znalezienia sobie nowej pracy. Znajduje ją w domu Anthony'ego, który zaplanował sobie, że za pomocą słodkości, które są specjalnością naszego kucharza, zwabi swego wroga, w celu zadania mu ostatecznego ciosu. Wróg, czyli lord Candover, jest znany ze swojej słabości do francuskich deserów. Przy czym bohaterka musi porzucić swe męskie przebranie, i przyjmując nową tożsamość, pracować jako kobieta. Z pewnością można oczekiwać, iż hrabia odetchnie z ulgą, gdy okaże się, że obiekt jego zainteresowania to, w rzeczywistości, piękna kobieta.
Przeglądając recenzje, natknęłam się na opinię, że fabuła jest zaplątana, a właściwie tworzy bałagan. Przyznam szczerze, że i dla mnie jest to nieco pokręcone. Sama nie jestem w stanie streścić choćby początku, by móc kogokolwiek porządnie wprowadzić w historię. Ograniczę się zatem do wypunktowania kilku istotniejszych informacji, których nie da rady ułożyć w spójną wypowiedź, nie tworząc przy tym zamieszania.
Bohaterka:
* została sierotą w wieku kilkunastu lat
* jest w połowie Francuzką, a w połowie Angielką
* przez kilka lat była pod opieką brata swej angielskiej matki
* wuj nie darzy dziewczyny sympatią, a właściwie czuje do niej niechęć z racji jej podobieństwa do francuskiego ojca
Bohater:
* w wieku lat 8 jego matka zamknęła się w sobie, popadając w melancholię, i miało to negatywny wpływ na jego życie
* został półsierotą w wieku kilkunastu lat
* na łożu śmierci jego ojciec wymusza na nim obietnicę zemsty na człowieku odpowiedzialnym za zniszczenie rodziny i śmierć matki
Do tego wszystkiego dochodzi śledztwo prowadzone przez agentów Bow Sreet, a dotyczy ono próby otrucia wuja naszej uciekinierki.
Krótko i na temat: "Cuda na kiju podane na słodko".
Co kilka rozdziałów na początku podane są przepisy na różne smakołyki, aż człowiekowi ślinka cieknie. Nie wspomnę, że miałam przy okazji włączony odświeżacz do powietrza o zapachu jabłek z cynamonem. W związku z tym, czytając tę książkę, ciągle myślałam o jabłkach w karmelu z cynamonem. Ewentualnie o czymkolwiek na słodko. Jako fanka cudacznych deserów, słodyczy i ogólnie wypieków, nie mogłabym sobie wymarzyć książki, która bardziej by do mnie przemawiała. Naprawdę.
Jak już wcześniej wspomniałam, mamy tu miks absolutny. Bohaterka gotuje i kusi, zarówno bohatera, jak i czytelnika. Bohater próbuje zrealizować swój plan zemsty. Oboje usiłują oprzeć się wzajemnemu zainteresowaniu, a gdy to nie wychodzi, przystosować się do wydarzeń. Policja węszy wokół. Bohaterowie starają się uprzedzić policję. I tak bez końca.
Gdyby się tak porządnie zastanowić, to nie znajdziemy tutaj nic głębszego. Tajemnice wcale nie są takie tajemnicze, zagadki takie skomplikowane, a zemsta to wcale nie jest to, co tygryski lubią najbardziej. Ale kogo to obchodzi? Mnie na pewno nie, bo czuję się w pełni usatysfakcjonowana po lekturze tego tytułu. Było, przede wszystkim, sympatycznie i, jakoś tak, ciepło.
Przy okazji, marzyło mi się, podczas przyglądania się naszej śnieżnej zimie, aby akcja kolejnej czytanej przeze mnie książki rozgrywała się o tej właśnie porze roku. I co? I jest zima. Mroźna i śnieżna, zgodnie z życzeniem.
Maskarada, słodycze, tajemnica sprzed lat i zemsta.
Anglia, rok 1816.
Anthony, hrabia Storrington wygrywa w karty młodą kobietę. Sam za bardzo nie wie co z tak niezwykłą wygraną uczynić. Dziewczyna jest siostrzenicą lorda Candovera, jak się okazuje, mężczyzny, na którym nasz bohater pragnie się zemścić. Jeśli ktoś się spodziewa, że dziewczyna będzie cierpliwie i potulnie czekać, by dowiedzieć się jakie plany ma jej "właściciel", jest w wielkim błędzie. Jacobin de Chastelux, nie ma najmniejszego zamiaru liczyć na łut szczęścia i dobrą wolę zwycięzcy osobliwej karcianej rozgrywki. Ucieka z domu swego wuja, a Anthony nie musi dłużej zastanawiać się co zrobić w zaistniałej sytuacji.
Mijają trzy miesiące. Bohaterka w męskim przebraniu pracuje w Royal Pavilion jako francuski kucharz, specjalizujący się w przyrządzaniu wykwintnych deserów. To właśnie w takiej odsłonie spotyka się po raz pierwszy twarzą w twarz z hrabią Storringtonem. Mężczyzna ratuje ją z rąk opryszków i, o ile ona jest wdzięczna, o tyle on rozdrażniony owym spotkaniem. Ktoś spyta dlaczego? Ano dlatego, że bohater nie widzi nic śmiesznego w sytuacji, w której odczuwa fizyczny pociąg do szczupłego chłopca (I to po dwuletniej abstynencji.). Niewiele jednak trzeba, tylko kilka zbiegów okoliczności, by Jacobin aka Jacob została zmuszona do znalezienia sobie nowej pracy. Znajduje ją w domu Anthony'ego, który zaplanował sobie, że za pomocą słodkości, które są specjalnością naszego kucharza, zwabi swego wroga, w celu zadania mu ostatecznego ciosu. Wróg, czyli lord Candover, jest znany ze swojej słabości do francuskich deserów. Przy czym bohaterka musi porzucić swe męskie przebranie, i przyjmując nową tożsamość, pracować jako kobieta. Z pewnością można oczekiwać, iż hrabia odetchnie z ulgą, gdy okaże się, że obiekt jego zainteresowania to, w rzeczywistości, piękna kobieta.
Przeglądając recenzje, natknęłam się na opinię, że fabuła jest zaplątana, a właściwie tworzy bałagan. Przyznam szczerze, że i dla mnie jest to nieco pokręcone. Sama nie jestem w stanie streścić choćby początku, by móc kogokolwiek porządnie wprowadzić w historię. Ograniczę się zatem do wypunktowania kilku istotniejszych informacji, których nie da rady ułożyć w spójną wypowiedź, nie tworząc przy tym zamieszania.
Bohaterka:
* została sierotą w wieku kilkunastu lat
* jest w połowie Francuzką, a w połowie Angielką
* przez kilka lat była pod opieką brata swej angielskiej matki
* wuj nie darzy dziewczyny sympatią, a właściwie czuje do niej niechęć z racji jej podobieństwa do francuskiego ojca
Bohater:
* w wieku lat 8 jego matka zamknęła się w sobie, popadając w melancholię, i miało to negatywny wpływ na jego życie
* został półsierotą w wieku kilkunastu lat
* na łożu śmierci jego ojciec wymusza na nim obietnicę zemsty na człowieku odpowiedzialnym za zniszczenie rodziny i śmierć matki
Do tego wszystkiego dochodzi śledztwo prowadzone przez agentów Bow Sreet, a dotyczy ono próby otrucia wuja naszej uciekinierki.
Krótko i na temat: "Cuda na kiju podane na słodko".
Co kilka rozdziałów na początku podane są przepisy na różne smakołyki, aż człowiekowi ślinka cieknie. Nie wspomnę, że miałam przy okazji włączony odświeżacz do powietrza o zapachu jabłek z cynamonem. W związku z tym, czytając tę książkę, ciągle myślałam o jabłkach w karmelu z cynamonem. Ewentualnie o czymkolwiek na słodko. Jako fanka cudacznych deserów, słodyczy i ogólnie wypieków, nie mogłabym sobie wymarzyć książki, która bardziej by do mnie przemawiała. Naprawdę.
Jak już wcześniej wspomniałam, mamy tu miks absolutny. Bohaterka gotuje i kusi, zarówno bohatera, jak i czytelnika. Bohater próbuje zrealizować swój plan zemsty. Oboje usiłują oprzeć się wzajemnemu zainteresowaniu, a gdy to nie wychodzi, przystosować się do wydarzeń. Policja węszy wokół. Bohaterowie starają się uprzedzić policję. I tak bez końca.
Gdyby się tak porządnie zastanowić, to nie znajdziemy tutaj nic głębszego. Tajemnice wcale nie są takie tajemnicze, zagadki takie skomplikowane, a zemsta to wcale nie jest to, co tygryski lubią najbardziej. Ale kogo to obchodzi? Mnie na pewno nie, bo czuję się w pełni usatysfakcjonowana po lekturze tego tytułu. Było, przede wszystkim, sympatycznie i, jakoś tak, ciepło.
Przy okazji, marzyło mi się, podczas przyglądania się naszej śnieżnej zimie, aby akcja kolejnej czytanej przeze mnie książki rozgrywała się o tej właśnie porze roku. I co? I jest zima. Mroźna i śnieżna, zgodnie z życzeniem.
February 17, 2013
Unfortunately, Jacobin de Chastelux can’t say that. And it’s all Anthony, Earl of Storrington’s fault. Or her uncle, Lord Cardover’s. See, the two of them got into a card game and when the stakes got too rich for Cardover, he offered her—Jacobin—against 20,000 pounds, and lost. When he informed her that she was to become Lord Storrington’s mistress, Jacobin bolted, along with her uncle’s pastry chef.
Now she’s masquerading as a young man, and employed as a pâtissière (if you don't speak "snob," that's "pastry chef") by none other than the Prince Regent. And among other things, she made a special pudding for a big banquet. The next day, the leftovers were, as always, sold off—some of the best houses in Brighton paid good blunt for scraps from Prinny’s table. Jacobin recognized her uncle’s crest on the dish in which a servant carried away her special pudding. And it seems someone added a secret ingredient.
Her uncle almost died, and the authorities are asking questions. They’re sure to look hard at her and her secret identity will unravel. And once that happens, there’ll be no telling the authorities that she’s innocent.
Lord Anthony Storrington to the rescue. You see, he’s been trying to ruin Lord Cardover—that’s what the card game was about. And Lord C has a famous penchant for French pastry. So when Anthony hears of young “Jacob Leon’s” spectacular pastries, he makes the lad a lucrative offer. Never mind that Anthony is not particularly fond of sweets and thinks a Petit Four is a small orgy.
Jacobin accepts the job offer, but as Jane Castle (Anthony feels much better about his less than wholesome reaction to the young chef now that he knows Jake’s a Jane). Thus, "Jacob Leon" disappears.
The problem is that the Bow Street Runner who’s looking into the poisoning is a pretty sharp guy, and the sudden disappearance of an effeminate young pastry chef and sudden appearance of a fantastic female pastry chef won't be that hard to put together. Jacobin realizes it’s only a matter of time before the runner figures it all out—and since he’s so fixed on “Jacob” as a suspect he’s not looking very hard at other possibilities. It’s up to her to find the would-be assassin—hopefully before she’s “outed.”
I liked this book. There was plenty of emotional material to work with—Jacobin has reasons to be furious with Anthony, and she is, but while Anthony is a complete putz at times, if you dig—
REALLY dig
—he’s a decent guy who deserves her. There’s also a pretty good mystery (I saw the whodunit coming, it was set up very nicely and I didn’t think it was too obvious). Add in the fact that there were some legit historical figures woven into the story, and she included some period recipes, and while this doesn’t knock it out of the park, it’s at least a triple. Not that I cook.
So this one gets four stars.
June 19, 2011
Note: This review, and all my reviews, comes from my blog - Romantic Rose's Bookshelf (http://romantic-rosesblog.blogspot.com)
Our heroine, Jacobin de Chastelux, is really fun. Why? She’s a wonderful pastry cook and can make ‘little puffy things’. She’s French. She curses in French like a sailor. And she has a gay friend. These are just some of the things that make for a wonderfully unique heroine – and she was so unique that I even forgave her the mild temper tantrums that didn’t make sense and the occasional character slips. Her fiery personality was setting off sparks all throughout the book, and I loved it.
Our hero, Lord Anthony Storrington, is not as likeable. You may like him just fine, but I found him a bit too… spoiled for my tastes. Everything in his life was about how it affected him. I was annoyed at his reluctance to befriend his obviously kind sister. He always wanted Jacobin to wait on him (even after he knows her true identity – explanation follows), sometimes in ways not pertaining to her servant station. His actions are generally self-serving, almost throughout the entire book. As you well know, a boring or selfish hero breaks a book and Lord Storrington, while still sexy and sometimes quite nice, didn’t quite sit right with me.
Jacobin is a lady who runs away from her guardian (her Uncle) after he loses her in a card game to Lord Storrington. She is hired as a pastry chef (she’s a good one) in the Prince’s kitchens, where she is disguised as a man. When a poisoning occurs, she is forced to flee due to suspicion that might reveal her true identity. She is rehired as a woman, Jane Castle, in Lord Storrington’s kitchens. Thus, romance ensues. I shan’t tell you more or I’ll spoil it for you, but the plot basically revolves around the investigator getting closer and closer to discovering Jane’s true identity as he tries to solve the attempted murder.
The plot was decent overall, as long as you aren’t a reader who wants to wallow strictly in reality. Some of the events, like Jacobin pretending to be a male in the kitchen for almost a year and getting away with it, push the bounds of reality but I found it made the story more fun and more interesting. There was, however, a part of the plot Neville could’ve dropped out. I found the whole “My-mother-had-an-affair-and-then-killed-herself-ruining-my-life-so-I’m-going-to-get-revenge-on-the-man-who-banged-her” thing Storrington had going on was a bit ridiculous. I was happy enough to wade through some of the fantasy of the plot, I even got caught up in some of the whimsy of hidden identities and all that – but that silliness really ruined some of the book for me and made out Storrington to be a big baby who can't think like a rational adult.
“Sexy”ness rating: Cute and fun and a little bit kinky with whipped cream and a little bondage (just in case you’re concerned it’s all very light - more creative, less serious kink).
Overall Rating: B-
Bottom Line: The heroine makes the book worth reading, her personality is that unique and I love that she’s French. Our hero… we could do without.
Our heroine, Jacobin de Chastelux, is really fun. Why? She’s a wonderful pastry cook and can make ‘little puffy things’. She’s French. She curses in French like a sailor. And she has a gay friend. These are just some of the things that make for a wonderfully unique heroine – and she was so unique that I even forgave her the mild temper tantrums that didn’t make sense and the occasional character slips. Her fiery personality was setting off sparks all throughout the book, and I loved it.
Our hero, Lord Anthony Storrington, is not as likeable. You may like him just fine, but I found him a bit too… spoiled for my tastes. Everything in his life was about how it affected him. I was annoyed at his reluctance to befriend his obviously kind sister. He always wanted Jacobin to wait on him (even after he knows her true identity – explanation follows), sometimes in ways not pertaining to her servant station. His actions are generally self-serving, almost throughout the entire book. As you well know, a boring or selfish hero breaks a book and Lord Storrington, while still sexy and sometimes quite nice, didn’t quite sit right with me.
Jacobin is a lady who runs away from her guardian (her Uncle) after he loses her in a card game to Lord Storrington. She is hired as a pastry chef (she’s a good one) in the Prince’s kitchens, where she is disguised as a man. When a poisoning occurs, she is forced to flee due to suspicion that might reveal her true identity. She is rehired as a woman, Jane Castle, in Lord Storrington’s kitchens. Thus, romance ensues. I shan’t tell you more or I’ll spoil it for you, but the plot basically revolves around the investigator getting closer and closer to discovering Jane’s true identity as he tries to solve the attempted murder.
The plot was decent overall, as long as you aren’t a reader who wants to wallow strictly in reality. Some of the events, like Jacobin pretending to be a male in the kitchen for almost a year and getting away with it, push the bounds of reality but I found it made the story more fun and more interesting. There was, however, a part of the plot Neville could’ve dropped out. I found the whole “My-mother-had-an-affair-and-then-killed-herself-ruining-my-life-so-I’m-going-to-get-revenge-on-the-man-who-banged-her” thing Storrington had going on was a bit ridiculous. I was happy enough to wade through some of the fantasy of the plot, I even got caught up in some of the whimsy of hidden identities and all that – but that silliness really ruined some of the book for me and made out Storrington to be a big baby who can't think like a rational adult.
“Sexy”ness rating: Cute and fun and a little bit kinky with whipped cream and a little bondage (just in case you’re concerned it’s all very light - more creative, less serious kink).
Overall Rating: B-
Bottom Line: The heroine makes the book worth reading, her personality is that unique and I love that she’s French. Our hero… we could do without.
March 11, 2009
Reviewed by Buffie Johnson for Romance Novel TV
Publisher: Avon
Consumed with thoughts of revenge, Lord Sorrington is poised to ruin Lord Candover. Anthony believes Lord Candover is responsible for the untimely death of Anthony’s mother several years ago. Believing financial ruin is the place to start, Anthony engages Lord Candover in several card games. During their last card game, Lord Candover wages his niece in the bet and loses her to Anthony. The next step in Anthony’s revenge is to bring social ruin upon Lord Candover and his family, and winning the girl in a game will help in this endeavor. But when Lord Candover informs Anthony he cannot produce the girl as she has run away, Anthony once again tries to engage Lord Candover in more card games only to have Lord Candover resist the temptation of cards. But Anthony knows there is one area where Lord Candover never resists and that is in form of sweet pastries. Determined to bring down the man who took his mother away, Anthony employs a pastry chef in the hopes of luring Lord Candover with sweets and then destroying him in cards. What Anthony did not anticipate is the immediate distraction of one pastry chef.
After learning her uncle, Lord Candover, has wagered and lost her in a card game, Jacobin de Chastelux flees her home. After spending years learning the tricks of the trade from her uncle’s French chef, Jacobin finds employment as a pastry chef in the Royal home in Brighton. Only Jacobin has disguised herself as a man, Jacob Leon. After working undetected for a several weeks in the Royal home, Jacobin finds herself on the run again as her uncle is poisoned by a pastry dish during a banquet. Using her skills of disguise, Jacobin turns herself into Jane Castle, the cousin of Jacob Leon, and takes the position of patissiere in Lord Sorrington’s kitchen. Jacobin is not sure she has made the right decision – to hide from her uncle in the very house of the man who won her in a card game. But as she spends more time in the company of Anthony, she begins to believe that Anthony is one she should fear because the feelings she is developing surely are against the law.
I believe Miranda Neville has produced a wonderful debut novel. I became attached to the characters and their personal stories rather quickly and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the relationship between Anthony and Jacobin evolve into one full of love and trust. Jacobin is not your typical virginal heroine. She is passionate and not afraid to express her emotions by touch. This is a pleasant reprieve from the normal heroine. Miranda Neville has also added a nice touch to the beginning of several chapters in the book. As Jacobin loves to make pastries, Ms. Neville included several time period pastry recipes. Since I am a person who loves to cook and bake, I enjoyed seeing all that was involved in these recipes. I definitely recommend this book and am looking forward to more works from Ms. Neville. So don’t resist the temptation – pick up the book!
Publisher: Avon
Consumed with thoughts of revenge, Lord Sorrington is poised to ruin Lord Candover. Anthony believes Lord Candover is responsible for the untimely death of Anthony’s mother several years ago. Believing financial ruin is the place to start, Anthony engages Lord Candover in several card games. During their last card game, Lord Candover wages his niece in the bet and loses her to Anthony. The next step in Anthony’s revenge is to bring social ruin upon Lord Candover and his family, and winning the girl in a game will help in this endeavor. But when Lord Candover informs Anthony he cannot produce the girl as she has run away, Anthony once again tries to engage Lord Candover in more card games only to have Lord Candover resist the temptation of cards. But Anthony knows there is one area where Lord Candover never resists and that is in form of sweet pastries. Determined to bring down the man who took his mother away, Anthony employs a pastry chef in the hopes of luring Lord Candover with sweets and then destroying him in cards. What Anthony did not anticipate is the immediate distraction of one pastry chef.
After learning her uncle, Lord Candover, has wagered and lost her in a card game, Jacobin de Chastelux flees her home. After spending years learning the tricks of the trade from her uncle’s French chef, Jacobin finds employment as a pastry chef in the Royal home in Brighton. Only Jacobin has disguised herself as a man, Jacob Leon. After working undetected for a several weeks in the Royal home, Jacobin finds herself on the run again as her uncle is poisoned by a pastry dish during a banquet. Using her skills of disguise, Jacobin turns herself into Jane Castle, the cousin of Jacob Leon, and takes the position of patissiere in Lord Sorrington’s kitchen. Jacobin is not sure she has made the right decision – to hide from her uncle in the very house of the man who won her in a card game. But as she spends more time in the company of Anthony, she begins to believe that Anthony is one she should fear because the feelings she is developing surely are against the law.
I believe Miranda Neville has produced a wonderful debut novel. I became attached to the characters and their personal stories rather quickly and thoroughly enjoyed seeing the relationship between Anthony and Jacobin evolve into one full of love and trust. Jacobin is not your typical virginal heroine. She is passionate and not afraid to express her emotions by touch. This is a pleasant reprieve from the normal heroine. Miranda Neville has also added a nice touch to the beginning of several chapters in the book. As Jacobin loves to make pastries, Ms. Neville included several time period pastry recipes. Since I am a person who loves to cook and bake, I enjoyed seeing all that was involved in these recipes. I definitely recommend this book and am looking forward to more works from Ms. Neville. So don’t resist the temptation – pick up the book!
January 15, 2010
Born and raised in France (although English on her mother's side) Jacobin de Chastelux returns to England after her parent's death and in care of her despicable uncle Baron Candover. Playing at cards with Lord Anthony Storrington and down on luck and funds he gambles his last asset - Jacobin. Of course she's none too pleased and high tails it out of dodge with her uncle's pastry chef, and disguised a boy and gains work in the Prince Regent's kitchen. It doesn't take long before finds herself accused of trying to poison her uncle and she's once again on the lam - and offers her pastry skills up to the very man she'd run from in the first place - Anthony.
Anthony doesn't fall for the boy get-up and falls into immediate lust with Jacobin and will do anything to protect her from the law while our intrepid pair try to solve the mystery of who is trying to kill her uncle. There's also a sub-story of Anthony’s desire for revenge against Candover along with a mystery involving the death of his mother. You should be able to figure out most of it lickety-split. No big surprises here.
While the book started off a bit fun and I did enjoy all the food references and pastry descriptions (I swear my blood sugar levels went up just thinking about them), it quickly dissolved into a bit of a silly mess. I did like Jacobin’s character and she was definitely a better-than-your-average-romance-heroine, but as other reviewers have noted Anthony could have used a strong infusion of alpha male and less milk-toast mushiness. Although certainly tame compared to other romance novels, the sex scenes got a bit odd at times, especially the pretend we're at the opera while I pleasure you from behind bit (you had to be there). It's a light fluffy read if you want to kill a few hours with some brain candy (pun intended) but not one that's going to linger on your keeper shelf either. 2.5/5 stars - I'm giving an extra half star just because Neville did spare me another volcano of honey moment. Thank goodness for small miracles :p
Anthony doesn't fall for the boy get-up and falls into immediate lust with Jacobin and will do anything to protect her from the law while our intrepid pair try to solve the mystery of who is trying to kill her uncle. There's also a sub-story of Anthony’s desire for revenge against Candover along with a mystery involving the death of his mother. You should be able to figure out most of it lickety-split. No big surprises here.
While the book started off a bit fun and I did enjoy all the food references and pastry descriptions (I swear my blood sugar levels went up just thinking about them), it quickly dissolved into a bit of a silly mess. I did like Jacobin’s character and she was definitely a better-than-your-average-romance-heroine, but as other reviewers have noted Anthony could have used a strong infusion of alpha male and less milk-toast mushiness. Although certainly tame compared to other romance novels, the sex scenes got a bit odd at times, especially the pretend we're at the opera while I pleasure you from behind bit (you had to be there). It's a light fluffy read if you want to kill a few hours with some brain candy (pun intended) but not one that's going to linger on your keeper shelf either. 2.5/5 stars - I'm giving an extra half star just because Neville did spare me another volcano of honey moment. Thank goodness for small miracles :p
September 26, 2013
Humm... I enjoyed this book but I also found it a bit lacking in some areas. Set about 10 or more years after the terror in France Jacobin flees her uncles house after he bets and looses her in a game of cards. And later flees the position she had found in the palace as a patisserie chef when her uncle is poisoned by a dish that came from the palace kitchen. From there she finds her self as the patisserie in the Earl of Storrington's house hold; ironically the same man who would had won her in the card game. From there a lot of things happen, her uncle recovers but latter ends up shot with Jacobin being the one to discover him and then to be discovered over his body. Then eventually everything works out.
Ok first of all Jacobin is almost royalty! Her father was related to the royal family in France and her mother the royal family in England. Why no matter how much her uncle might have disliked her, due to her father or her half French roots, did he not cash in on that fact and give her a season and marry her well? Next, I get the whole I like to cook thing, and while she carries herself well, Jacobin should have been discovered by the servants as not truly being a servant at some point. and then last if only to stop me from going on and on the two servants who helped in almost getting Jacobin killed should have just been sacked and had a much harsher punishment than what was dulled out. Really, oh 'I helped this guy 'cause I just really didn't like so and so girl, and well if she ended up dead then too bad. But snaps she's still alive' Seriously?
So yeah over all rating is 2.5, the book was kind of enjoyable but there was so much that was skipped over that could have made for a better story line.
Ok first of all Jacobin is almost royalty! Her father was related to the royal family in France and her mother the royal family in England. Why no matter how much her uncle might have disliked her, due to her father or her half French roots, did he not cash in on that fact and give her a season and marry her well? Next, I get the whole I like to cook thing, and while she carries herself well, Jacobin should have been discovered by the servants as not truly being a servant at some point. and then last if only to stop me from going on and on the two servants who helped in almost getting Jacobin killed should have just been sacked and had a much harsher punishment than what was dulled out. Really, oh 'I helped this guy 'cause I just really didn't like so and so girl, and well if she ended up dead then too bad. But snaps she's still alive' Seriously?
So yeah over all rating is 2.5, the book was kind of enjoyable but there was so much that was skipped over that could have made for a better story line.
August 27, 2018
A woman on the run Beautiful, spirited Jacobin de Chastelux would have been the perfect prize for any man . . . but she never imagined one would win her at a game of cards! When she learns that her dissolute, dastardly uncle and guardian had wagered her virtue--and lost---she flees. A cunning disguise and her culinary talents land her in the royal kitchen as a chef. All is well until her uncle is poisoned by one of her desserts. Jacobin must escape again . . . to the home of the very man who won her in that infamous game! Lord Storrington knows nothing of Jacobin's true identity. All he knows is that things are heating up---and the sparks aren't coming from the stove. A delicious ecstasy tempts the scoundrel and the chef . . . one that can only end with sweet, sweet surrender.
October 1, 2013
Never Resist Temptation RATING: 1.5 stars.
Just... there was nothing special about this. It was bland and not interesting.
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Outro livro de Miranda Neville. É bastante óbvio que se trata do primeiro livro da autora porque o enredo está fragmentado e algo confuso, a química entre as personagens deixa muito a desejar e o ritmo é irregular. Não consegui sentir nada pelos protagonistas e dei por mim a saltar um ou dois parágrafos lá mais para o fim uma vez que nem o mistério me agarrou a atenção. Uma coisa de louvar é a atenção aos detalhes históricos (pelo menos do que consegui ver).
Just... there was nothing special about this. It was bland and not interesting.
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Outro livro de Miranda Neville. É bastante óbvio que se trata do primeiro livro da autora porque o enredo está fragmentado e algo confuso, a química entre as personagens deixa muito a desejar e o ritmo é irregular. Não consegui sentir nada pelos protagonistas e dei por mim a saltar um ou dois parágrafos lá mais para o fim uma vez que nem o mistério me agarrou a atenção. Uma coisa de louvar é a atenção aos detalhes históricos (pelo menos do que consegui ver).
October 19, 2009
A classic historical romance set in Regency period. Complete with Lords and Ladies,
and all the details one hopes to get from this type of novel with a "who-done-it" twist.
I found the novel refreshing and enjoyed the character interactions. The mystery aspect also
had me "guessing" throughout.
It has fun little facts on the period and locations mentioned in the book at the end as well
as recipes by Antonin Careme (a real French chef of the time period) who shared a small part
of plot in this story.
and all the details one hopes to get from this type of novel with a "who-done-it" twist.
I found the novel refreshing and enjoyed the character interactions. The mystery aspect also
had me "guessing" throughout.
It has fun little facts on the period and locations mentioned in the book at the end as well
as recipes by Antonin Careme (a real French chef of the time period) who shared a small part
of plot in this story.
January 28, 2015
Miranda Neville's "Never Resist temptation"
I didn't actually finish this one, not because it was horrible in any way, but because it didn't keep my interest. The story could have been better if the main characters had been more appealing as people, but as it was, meh! Also, the heroine is too far into the TSTL range - I think the author wanted to make her fearless and impulsive, but for me that didn't work very well and just came out as thoughtless and somewhat stupid.
I didn't actually finish this one, not because it was horrible in any way, but because it didn't keep my interest. The story could have been better if the main characters had been more appealing as people, but as it was, meh! Also, the heroine is too far into the TSTL range - I think the author wanted to make her fearless and impulsive, but for me that didn't work very well and just came out as thoughtless and somewhat stupid.
April 22, 2011
I read the first line in this book in an email and decided I had to read the whole book. First line;"Nothing in Anthony's upbringing or experience had taught him the proper etiquette for taking delivery of a woman won in a card game." It was a fun first line but he did not get to take delivery. It was a fun read. Kind of different as the heroine ran off and worked as a cook. Old recipes were included at the first of some of the chapters.
June 15, 2013
The pastry chef aspect wand the repeated references to Antonin Careme, the first celebrity chef was the best part of this book. Evil uncle motif, unsuspected bad guy, reluctant hero, and impulsive heroine are some of the stereotypes for this romance. The French Revolution and Marie Antoinette flashbacks were effective and interesting, making for a rich background for the female lead. Another middling romance.
May 19, 2011
Once you suspend belief that this beautiful woman was able to disguise herself as a man as she worked among many men as a chef, it's quite a fun book. Pretty darn good for a debut novel. Sprinkled throughout with some recipes (Jacobin was a pastry chef), this was a lighthearted romance with a bit of mystery. And I admit Anthony's love of "little puffy things" made me smile.
Read
February 25, 2012This was a fun romantic read! Jacobin is as head-strong as they get and Anthony is a flawed, ultimately good, man. The only problem for me was that I was constantly hungry when reading... Jacobin is a pastry chef and the descriptions of the sweets were just so delicious. I totally need to head to Miranda's website to check out how she made those "little puffy things" :-)
July 13, 2009
This is the first romance I've read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The mystery was engaging and it was fun to escape into another time period and another world. I can't wait to read Miranda Neville's next book!
August 25, 2010
Lovely romp ... I wish more authors would permit their heroines to have skills and avocations and passions beyond the quest to find a husband. Neville is on my short, select "have to read their latest book" list.
December 23, 2012
2.5 stars. As usual, Neville's prose is smooth and readable, but these characters fall flat (heroine & hero) or piss me off in ways that the heroine may be able to forgive but I cannot.
It's too bad. I like the food theme and the recipe epigraph idea but.
It's too bad. I like the food theme and the recipe epigraph idea but.
July 5, 2009
Nothing exciting or novel here. Rather bland characters with a staid plot, but not a complete waste of time if you have nothing better.
December 11, 2009
Jacobin de Chastelux is hiding from her uncle. She hides as a chef. Lord Storrington rescues her from the attempted murder of her uncle
December 17, 2010
Wish there was more play on food and description of the French sweets Jacobin cooked, though I loved the recipe samples in each chapter.
While I found Storrington a little annoying, I loved Jacobin.
While I found Storrington a little annoying, I loved Jacobin.
March 27, 2012
1-1/2 stars
May 8, 2012
Historical romance/mystery and food. Can't get better.
December 4, 2012
Much fun, and so much wonderful food!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews