Review & Giveaway: Revolutionary Temptation by Silvia Violet

Revolutionary Temptation - Silvia Violet

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Smashwords | KOBO

Length: 67,500

Blurb

1777 New York City

The American colonists are fighting for their independence, but the battlefield is not the only place to wage war. When General Washington’s head of intelligence asks Captain Jack West to spy on the British in New York, Jack agrees, despite reservations about this ungentlemanly pursuit.

Jack’s contact in the city recruits bookshop owner Elias Ashfield, an impeccably dressed sensualist who flaunts his desire for both men and women and seeks a place in high society. Jack longs for a simple life guided by clear principles. Eli is a risk-taker who knows how to get what he wants. And he wants Jack in his bed.

Events in Jack’s past have made him fearful of acting on his secret craving for a man’s touch, but Eli intrigues Jack as much as he infuriates him. As Jack and Eli search for the information the rebel army needs, they realize there’s more between them than mere lust. But finding a way to be together may prove more difficult than defeating the British Empire.

***

Review: 5 Stars

Wounded while fighting against the British, rebel captain Jack West, is given other orders while he recuperates in New York. To find out as much as he can about the British troops there. Soldier numbers, supply routes, plans for their next attack in the Spring. Jack is very reluctant at first, he feels like spying and gathering information in such an underhand way is not the work of a gentleman. And when he discovers his contact in New York is a woman, he feels even more appalled that the army would recruit a lady to do such work.

Elias Ashfield, outwardly a British Loyalist book shop owner, in his heart supports the rebels and anyone else who would take the opposite side of his cruel uncle. Eli enjoys life, enjoys pleasure, both of the male and female variety and wants to rise himself up in society so that he never has to ask his uncle for anything ever again.

Sparks fly when they first meet but Jack denies their mutual attraction for a long time. Jack is older, but not more experienced and his few encounters with men have been of the paid variety. He doesn't know what to make of Eli, who flirts openly and doesn't seem to care what other people think, despite the fact that if they were caught, it could be the hangman's noose for both of them. Can Eli ever make him see that what they could have together is worth the risk?

I've never read any books set in this time period before, so it was interesting to read about it. Jack and Eli are both wonderful characters, both different, but both damaged in different ways. It's quite a slow burn romance, as they don't really get together until about half-way through, but there is lots of pining from afar and the reader knows how much they really care about each other.

It's written well and the author hasn't fallen into the "gadzooks" trap. No "gadzooks" or "forsooths" here. The dialogue, while reading as historical, caters for the modern reader and the story flows well. All the characters are well rounded and I liked the fact that the women portrayed were strong in their own right Widow Constance Sullivan is their immediate contact in New York and I found it perfectly believable that she could work as a spy. There were real feisty women throughout history, so it didn't seem too incredulous here. Who better to spy than a woman who some men thought should be seen and not heard? She could listen where others could not.

The love scenes, while sensual and explicit, were not coarse and flowed well within the story. But the main part of the romance is emotional rather than physical. The physical aspects just add another dimension to their relationship. There is a lot of plot as well as the romantic aspects, it's a good beefy novel to get lost in. Just the thing for curling up on a Winter's day.

Danger, intrigue and romance. A very enjoyable tale.

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Author Bio

Silvia Violet writes fun, sexy stories that will leave you smiling and satisfied. She has a thing for characters who are in need of comfort and enjoys helping them surrender to love even when they doubt it exists. Silvia's stories include sizzling contemporaries, paranormals, and historicals. When she needs a break from listening to the voices in her head, she spends time baking, taking long walks, curling up with her favorite books, and spending time with her family.

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