Temptation

The year is 1909, and Temperance O'Neil is a woman ahead of her time. A women's rights activist devoted to helping single mothers on the streets of New York City, Temperance is, at 29, happily married to her work- which she funds with a substantial inheritance. Unfortunately, her new stepfather feels very differently on the subject and, due to laws that Temperance finds infuriatingly outdated, he controls all of her money. Angus McCairn insists she quit her career and, as a respectable unmarried daughter should, live in his house in Edingurgh. With no other choice, Temperance heads for Scotland with one mission- to drive Angus crazy. Soon, an exasperated Angus makes her a most unlikely offer: to pose as housekeeper to Angus' nephew, James, in a secret attempt to find him a wife. If- and only if- she succeeds in matchmaking, she will be allowed to return to New York. Romantic Times - Kathe Robin Jude Deveraux has a winner with this story s engaging blend of Beauty and the Beast and The Taming of the Shrew . The wonderful early 20th-century backdrop of the women s rights movement, centering on the outdated laws against women s freedoms and their place in society, are brought to the fore, but not at the expense of the wonderful, utterly engaging and entertaining love story. This is a fine example of the reason why we read and love the genre. The year is 1909, and Temperance O’Neil is a woman ahead of her time. At 29, she is happily married to her work helping single mothers on the streets of New York. Unfortunately, Angus McCairn – her new stepfather – controls the purse strings to her substantial inheritance. Angus insists she quit her career and live in his house in Edinburgh. Temperance heads to Scotland with one mission – to drive Angus crazy. Angus asks that she pose as housekeeper to Angus’ nephew, James, in a secret attempt to find him a wife. If she succeeds in matchmaking, she will be allowed to return to New York. Although James McCairn is Laird of Clan McCairn, he’s no cultured gentleman – he’s a strapping, rough-mannered giant interested only in farming. His stables are immaculate, his horses gleam with care, and he lavishes personal attention on his sheep – but there are pigeons roosting in the kitchens and chickens in the bedrooms. Temperance is determined to win her return passage at any cost. But the cost may be her heart...for as Temperance O’Neil attempts to open James’ eyes to the wonders of love, it is she herself who is liberated – by the power of an overwhelming passion. It is 1909 and Temperance O'Neil is a woman ahead of her time. She's happy and devoted to her career helping single mothers on the streets of New York. But her new stepfather, Angus McCairn, does not approve. He makes her an unlikely offer: to go to Scotland, pose as housekeeper to his nephew James, and find him a wife, secretly. If she succeeds, he'll allow her back to New York. Temperance -- smart, passionate, as stubborn as her stepfather -- is determined at any cost to win her return passage. But she has taken on far more than she expected. James McCairn, Laird of Clan McCairn, is no cultured gentleman but a strapping, rough-mannered farmer, rude and brusque. There are pigeons roosting in the kitchen and chickens in the bedroom. Marriage is the last thing on his mind In 1909 New York City, women's rights activist Temperance O'Neil is shipped off to Scotland against her will to live with her old-fashioned stepfather and pose as a housekeeper to his nephew to help find a wife for the short-tempered James