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Rebel Temptress
A war between two lovers
Alone and unprotected, beautiful green-eyed Honor was helpless against the savage Yankees who stormed her plantation home. Then she met Yankee Major Adam O'Roarke. What ecstasy to be in the arms of a strong handsome man! What magic to be taken to the heights of desire! But each time she looked into his deep blue eyes she remembered that he was the enemy -- and she would never be free to love as she chose...
A war between two hearts
Adam O'Roarke had seen enough bloodshed and fighting. He was tired, lonely and in desperate need of the soft creamy flesh of a woman. And what he found was more precious than a treasure: beautiful, blonde-haired Honor Landau. Innocently she unleashed his fiery passion. Unknowingly she captured his heart. He vowed that when the war was over he would find a way to possess her forever. Until then he would savor the rapture of his seductive Rebel Temptress
Alone and unprotected, beautiful green-eyed Honor was helpless against the savage Yankees who stormed her plantation home. Then she met Yankee Major Adam O'Roarke. What ecstasy to be in the arms of a strong handsome man! What magic to be taken to the heights of desire! But each time she looked into his deep blue eyes she remembered that he was the enemy -- and she would never be free to love as she chose...
A war between two hearts
Adam O'Roarke had seen enough bloodshed and fighting. He was tired, lonely and in desperate need of the soft creamy flesh of a woman. And what he found was more precious than a treasure: beautiful, blonde-haired Honor Landau. Innocently she unleashed his fiery passion. Unknowingly she captured his heart. He vowed that when the war was over he would find a way to possess her forever. Until then he would savor the rapture of his seductive Rebel Temptress
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1983
18 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Constance O'Banyon
54 books199 followersEvelyn Gee was born on 1939 in Texas, USA. She makes her home in San Antonio with her husband, Jim and their son, Jason.
She signed her novels as Constance O'Banyon. She also wrote as Micah Leigh with Texan writer Emma Merritt. Her books range from historical to contemporary and include several novellas. Many of her books have been published in trade paperback.Among her many awards, she is the recipient of the 1996 Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. There are eight million copies of her books in print.
She says: "I have always loved history, and I loved storytelling — it was only natural that I would one day put them both together. I must have lived in another life and time, because when I write, I can almost feel I was there. My favorite part of writing is the research. Whenever possible, I will go to the place I am writing about to walk the land and smell the air."
https://www.facebook.com/Constanceobanyon/
She signed her novels as Constance O'Banyon. She also wrote as Micah Leigh with Texan writer Emma Merritt. Her books range from historical to contemporary and include several novellas. Many of her books have been published in trade paperback.Among her many awards, she is the recipient of the 1996 Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. There are eight million copies of her books in print.
She says: "I have always loved history, and I loved storytelling — it was only natural that I would one day put them both together. I must have lived in another life and time, because when I write, I can almost feel I was there. My favorite part of writing is the research. Whenever possible, I will go to the place I am writing about to walk the land and smell the air."
https://www.facebook.com/Constanceobanyon/
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 13, 2017
The hero is a Yankee who falls in love with a married southern woman while her husband is off at war and they have commandeered her house for his soldiers. The husband is brute who took his wife by force and now she is afraid of sex. I wish I could give this more but it just got too slow. I liked both main characters but not enough to give this more than three stars. I did develop a connection with the characters so I finished it. I think the book had lots of potential but just fizzled out. I never felt there was a climax of the hero and heroine getting together. There was plenty of spark when they were kept apart but when they finally got together the passion seemed to wane. Three stars is all I can give for such a lackluster finish to a story that had lots going for it in the beginning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2018
I had a paperback copy of this book that was lost in a move. It was one that I had read over and over again. Unfortunately I have a faulty memory when it comes to names of books and songs. After some time, I was able to locate this ebook version. I just love this book. It is filled with a lot of angst and tears. My emotions are all over the place with this book. With ebooks, I can now, at least, highlight all of my favorite passages!!!!
This is a book that is on my keeper shelf. If you love historical romances (especially in America during the Civil War), then you MUST read this book. You will not regret it!
This is a book that is on my keeper shelf. If you love historical romances (especially in America during the Civil War), then you MUST read this book. You will not regret it!
May 18, 2014
A Bit Soap-0pera-ish. Decent, but not exceptional.
After reading many romance novels, I get the strong feeling that more than a few romance authors are also soap-opera fans, because some of the books can be both sappy and melodramatic just like soap operas can. One such book is "Rebel Temptress" by Constance O'Banyon.
The Story: The book begins on a plantation in Virginia, where Meagan Landau is getting set to ditch her boyfriend, Jordan Daniels, who is away fighting for the Confederacy in the Civil War, and elope with another man, Horace Elderman. This action is not approved of by either her Aunt Amanda or her younger sister, Honor, the heroine of the book. Shortly after Meagan's elopment, Amanda Landau passes away, leaving Honor, at 16, with the responsibility of running her home, Landau Plantation. Jordan comes back home on leave and finds out he's been ditched. Hurt and angry, Jordan decides to get revenge on Meagan, and step 1 in his plan is to marry Honor, who, unbeknownst to him, is in love with him, although he is not with her.
That love is brutally shattered on their wedding night, when Jordan gets seriously drunk and rapes Honor. He feels bad about it-big whoop-and asks for her forgiveness, but that doesn't sway Honor, who asks him to leave her, which he does. Later, Honor finds out she's pregnant from the rape, and at first, she doesn't want the baby, but she carries to term and gives birth to a son, Aaron.
Shortly before Honor gives birth, a group of Union soldiers looking for shelter and to tend to their wounded arrive at Landau Plantation. Among the soldiers is Major Adam O'Rourke, the hero of the book. At first, they are enemies, but they begin to fall in love with each other, but Adam leaves once he and his soldiers are healthy enough to move on.
Fast forward three years. The war is over-at least the fighting is-and lives have changed. Honor is now living with her mother-in-law, Maggie Daniels, on the Daniels' plantation, Green Rivers, after Maggie's husband, Clayton, passed away. Honor sold Landau Plantation to pay the taxes and keep Green Rivers viable.
Meagan is now a rich widow, and she is on her way back to Virginia arrogantly believing that she can just take up with Jordan again as if nothing ever happened.
Jordan is on his way back home after serving time in a Union prison, and he believes that he can win Honor's love again.
Adam is back at his home in Boston trying to forget his love for Honor. What Honor doesn't know is that the buyer for Landau Plantation is Adam. He plans to give it back to her in the future.
Jordan is happy when he returns to find he has a son; he's less happy that Honor doesn't forgive him and even less happy that Meagan has returned intending to resume their relationship.
As time goes by, things take another turn. Jordan is still trying to get Honor to forgive him for raping her, and she almost does, when she finds Jordan and Meagan in bed together. Hurt by their betrayal, she goes back to Landau where she finds Adam, who has returned to Virginia, and they make love. They make plans to marry, but Adam's twin sister, Suzanne, tells Honor that she could be a liability to him as a divorced woman, and she breaks off their plans. Later, Meagan meets Adam, and thinking she's doing her sister a favor, tries to get him to fall in love with her. She fails; Adam only loves Honor.
More time goes by. On the day of Honor's birthday, everyone forgets except for Adam, who gives her a present of apples from her former plantation. Jordan becomes enraged at Adam's present, realizing Adam and Honor are in love, and he beats her, and as usual, is apologetic after the fact.
Winter comes. Jordan is spending most of his time with Aaron, trying to hurt Honor by denying her time with her son, when tragedy strikes. Aaron dies after being thrown from a horse while riding with Jordan, and both of them blame the other for Aaron's death. They have one final argument, and Honor becomes catatonic. When Adam finds out, he goes to her to comfort her and again profess his love. Honor rejects him, telling him she'll never leave Jordan, despite all he has done to her. Later, Suzanne confesses that she is the one who contributed to Honor's rejection of Adam. He decides to go back to Virginia yet again to try to win Honor. That turns out to be slightly easier than expected, as Honor finds out that her marriage to Jordan is not legally binding. The circuit rider who married them was a fraud.
At this time, Meagan and Honor have seen their relationship change. Meagan is now a much nicer, less self-centered person, and she and Honor travel to New York, where, lo and behold, who should show up? Adam. This was a partial set-up by Meagan to get them back together, and they eventually marry and have children, twins in fact, a boy and a girl, and have their happily ever after.
Despite all the things that happen in the book, the book is, as others have stated in their reviews, somewhat boring. The characters don't advance beyond the barely interesting stage, and the love scenes aren't much to write home about.
Sex: a few scenes, but they are rather mild.
Violence: Jordan hits Honor on two occasions. Jordan and Adam have a physical confrontation where they hit each other.
Bottom Line: Not her best book. Will likely appeal only to Ms. O'Banyon's current fans, not make any new ones.
After reading many romance novels, I get the strong feeling that more than a few romance authors are also soap-opera fans, because some of the books can be both sappy and melodramatic just like soap operas can. One such book is "Rebel Temptress" by Constance O'Banyon.
The Story: The book begins on a plantation in Virginia, where Meagan Landau is getting set to ditch her boyfriend, Jordan Daniels, who is away fighting for the Confederacy in the Civil War, and elope with another man, Horace Elderman. This action is not approved of by either her Aunt Amanda or her younger sister, Honor, the heroine of the book. Shortly after Meagan's elopment, Amanda Landau passes away, leaving Honor, at 16, with the responsibility of running her home, Landau Plantation. Jordan comes back home on leave and finds out he's been ditched. Hurt and angry, Jordan decides to get revenge on Meagan, and step 1 in his plan is to marry Honor, who, unbeknownst to him, is in love with him, although he is not with her.
That love is brutally shattered on their wedding night, when Jordan gets seriously drunk and rapes Honor. He feels bad about it-big whoop-and asks for her forgiveness, but that doesn't sway Honor, who asks him to leave her, which he does. Later, Honor finds out she's pregnant from the rape, and at first, she doesn't want the baby, but she carries to term and gives birth to a son, Aaron.
Shortly before Honor gives birth, a group of Union soldiers looking for shelter and to tend to their wounded arrive at Landau Plantation. Among the soldiers is Major Adam O'Rourke, the hero of the book. At first, they are enemies, but they begin to fall in love with each other, but Adam leaves once he and his soldiers are healthy enough to move on.
Fast forward three years. The war is over-at least the fighting is-and lives have changed. Honor is now living with her mother-in-law, Maggie Daniels, on the Daniels' plantation, Green Rivers, after Maggie's husband, Clayton, passed away. Honor sold Landau Plantation to pay the taxes and keep Green Rivers viable.
Meagan is now a rich widow, and she is on her way back to Virginia arrogantly believing that she can just take up with Jordan again as if nothing ever happened.
Jordan is on his way back home after serving time in a Union prison, and he believes that he can win Honor's love again.
Adam is back at his home in Boston trying to forget his love for Honor. What Honor doesn't know is that the buyer for Landau Plantation is Adam. He plans to give it back to her in the future.
Jordan is happy when he returns to find he has a son; he's less happy that Honor doesn't forgive him and even less happy that Meagan has returned intending to resume their relationship.
As time goes by, things take another turn. Jordan is still trying to get Honor to forgive him for raping her, and she almost does, when she finds Jordan and Meagan in bed together. Hurt by their betrayal, she goes back to Landau where she finds Adam, who has returned to Virginia, and they make love. They make plans to marry, but Adam's twin sister, Suzanne, tells Honor that she could be a liability to him as a divorced woman, and she breaks off their plans. Later, Meagan meets Adam, and thinking she's doing her sister a favor, tries to get him to fall in love with her. She fails; Adam only loves Honor.
More time goes by. On the day of Honor's birthday, everyone forgets except for Adam, who gives her a present of apples from her former plantation. Jordan becomes enraged at Adam's present, realizing Adam and Honor are in love, and he beats her, and as usual, is apologetic after the fact.
Winter comes. Jordan is spending most of his time with Aaron, trying to hurt Honor by denying her time with her son, when tragedy strikes. Aaron dies after being thrown from a horse while riding with Jordan, and both of them blame the other for Aaron's death. They have one final argument, and Honor becomes catatonic. When Adam finds out, he goes to her to comfort her and again profess his love. Honor rejects him, telling him she'll never leave Jordan, despite all he has done to her. Later, Suzanne confesses that she is the one who contributed to Honor's rejection of Adam. He decides to go back to Virginia yet again to try to win Honor. That turns out to be slightly easier than expected, as Honor finds out that her marriage to Jordan is not legally binding. The circuit rider who married them was a fraud.
At this time, Meagan and Honor have seen their relationship change. Meagan is now a much nicer, less self-centered person, and she and Honor travel to New York, where, lo and behold, who should show up? Adam. This was a partial set-up by Meagan to get them back together, and they eventually marry and have children, twins in fact, a boy and a girl, and have their happily ever after.
Despite all the things that happen in the book, the book is, as others have stated in their reviews, somewhat boring. The characters don't advance beyond the barely interesting stage, and the love scenes aren't much to write home about.
Sex: a few scenes, but they are rather mild.
Violence: Jordan hits Honor on two occasions. Jordan and Adam have a physical confrontation where they hit each other.
Bottom Line: Not her best book. Will likely appeal only to Ms. O'Banyon's current fans, not make any new ones.
August 15, 2013
I have owned this book for more than 20 years (!!!) but never read it. I remember as a teen, tossing it aside as it did not meet my "narrow- minded teenage" romance novel requirements of h being a virgin.
Recently I read the book ... And wow, I seriously liked it! Yes, it was a bit sappy but it turned my taps on abit. I also liked how committed H was to h, despite obstacles .... Namely, h was already married when they met.
In short recap, it is set in US Civil War era. h married at 16 ; had one( horrible) night with her husband who then abandoned/ left her to go to war. h met H when he and his army occupied her plantation. h was pregnant after that one time with her husband and H looked out for her and helped her deliver her baby.
In part 2, H came back to look for h after the war. Around the same time, her louse of a husband also returned. H stayed around to watch out for her, despite the pain of not "being with her", as her husband was in love with her sister and was also somewhat abusive.
Somehow, the author resolved the impasse and there is HEA. I loved how in love H was with h, no matter what.
Recently I read the book ... And wow, I seriously liked it! Yes, it was a bit sappy but it turned my taps on abit. I also liked how committed H was to h, despite obstacles .... Namely, h was already married when they met.
In short recap, it is set in US Civil War era. h married at 16 ; had one( horrible) night with her husband who then abandoned/ left her to go to war. h met H when he and his army occupied her plantation. h was pregnant after that one time with her husband and H looked out for her and helped her deliver her baby.
In part 2, H came back to look for h after the war. Around the same time, her louse of a husband also returned. H stayed around to watch out for her, despite the pain of not "being with her", as her husband was in love with her sister and was also somewhat abusive.
Somehow, the author resolved the impasse and there is HEA. I loved how in love H was with h, no matter what.
July 10, 2019
One those books you just can't put down and up all night to finish.
April 20, 2023
I purchase this book recently at secondhand store. This story takes place during the American Civil War.
Honor Landau lived with her sister Meagan and her Aunt Amanda in Viriginia. Her sister Meagan decides to go off and marry Horace Elderman and move away. Meagan was in love with Jordan Daniels, but Horace has more money.
Jordan returns on leave from the war and finds out that Meagan married someone else. Honor had just lost her Aunt to the fever and she herself was still sick. Jordan tells Honor he will marry her instead and she agreed since she was in love with him too. They are married and her wedding night she is rape by Jordan, she tells him he will never touch her again. Jordan leaves the next day to return to his troops.
Honor is woken one night, and the war has come to her home. Adam O'Roarke from the North has taken over her home for his soldiers some which are wounded. While Adam is there, he comes to love Honor and he is there when she delivers Jordan son.
Soon Adam and his soldier's leaves, and now the war is over, and Jordan comes home. Jordan wants his husbands rights and Honor is still afraid of him. Once again, he almost rapes her and runs off in the middle of the night, she ends up on Landau apple field and Adam is there, he helps her. He ask her to come to Boston with him, but she tells him she can't leave her son.
Adam is torn and Honor feels she has to honor her vows. So many obstacles to overcome, will love finally win? Bring the tissues.
Honor Landau lived with her sister Meagan and her Aunt Amanda in Viriginia. Her sister Meagan decides to go off and marry Horace Elderman and move away. Meagan was in love with Jordan Daniels, but Horace has more money.
Jordan returns on leave from the war and finds out that Meagan married someone else. Honor had just lost her Aunt to the fever and she herself was still sick. Jordan tells Honor he will marry her instead and she agreed since she was in love with him too. They are married and her wedding night she is rape by Jordan, she tells him he will never touch her again. Jordan leaves the next day to return to his troops.
Honor is woken one night, and the war has come to her home. Adam O'Roarke from the North has taken over her home for his soldiers some which are wounded. While Adam is there, he comes to love Honor and he is there when she delivers Jordan son.
Soon Adam and his soldier's leaves, and now the war is over, and Jordan comes home. Jordan wants his husbands rights and Honor is still afraid of him. Once again, he almost rapes her and runs off in the middle of the night, she ends up on Landau apple field and Adam is there, he helps her. He ask her to come to Boston with him, but she tells him she can't leave her son.
Adam is torn and Honor feels she has to honor her vows. So many obstacles to overcome, will love finally win? Bring the tissues.
March 26, 2025
Bad, just bad. Let me start first by saying the character of Darcy was lifted straight from Gone With the Wind's Hattie McDaniel. Apparently Mammy's identical twin sister resided at a plantation in Virginia. Second, the only interesting character is the older slutty sister Meagan! And after tarrying off to Europe in the first chapter we don’t get to see her again until half way through the book. But the biggest disappointment rests with the three main characters. The two guys vying for our heroine Honor's affection are both…..abusive. Although in different ways. Jordan is a physical and mental psychopath. While Adam plays mind games and manipulation. Both characters love to place the blame of their unrequited physical passions at Honor's door. It's Her fault she’s so beautiful. And that leads us to Honor herself. She's weak and a continuous victim through the whole book. Other than her looks (which of course she's unaware of) I can find no reason why these two guys are obsessed with her. She is completely uninteresting.
Why did I decide to read this piece of nonsense? Because I’ve had the book since 1983. It was the oldest unread book I own. And now I know why. Sorry the review is so harsh but you’ve been warned.
Why did I decide to read this piece of nonsense? Because I’ve had the book since 1983. It was the oldest unread book I own. And now I know why. Sorry the review is so harsh but you’ve been warned.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2017
Whoa.
I like this book a lot. It was very realistic. I didn't like that Jordan had his happy ending and that Suzanne, Adam's sister, almost ruined Honor and Adam's happiness. It was an intriguing tale and a tear jerker at times like when Jordan raped Honor on their wedding night and the times he beat her.
I like this book a lot. It was very realistic. I didn't like that Jordan had his happy ending and that Suzanne, Adam's sister, almost ruined Honor and Adam's happiness. It was an intriguing tale and a tear jerker at times like when Jordan raped Honor on their wedding night and the times he beat her.
July 16, 2015
This one was seriously sappy and kinda boring, but still ok. The plot sounded pretty good and she could have really done something with the story line, cause it sounded interesting, but she didn't. The sex was also very disappointing. Sorry Constance 8-/
June 24, 2010
This one was a little boring, but I still kinda liked it.
not-for-me
December 10, 2025H leaves h for long period. Avoid.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews