Paradise Series:
MASTER OF TEMPTATION
LORD OF SEDUCTION
Notorious Series:
THE SEDUCTION
THE PASSION
DESIRE
ECSTASY
THE PRINCE OF PLEASURE
Other Novels:
THE LOVER
Please read on for both a preview
of her sizzling historical romance,
Master of Temptation
Available now from Ballantine Books
and an exclusive author interview with Nicole Jordan
as she discusses her exciting new series
MASTER OF TEMPTATION
London, September 1814
Partially shielded from view by a potted palm, Max Leighton leaned against a marble column and surveyed the crowded ballroom without enthusiasm. After enduring so many years of war, he had returned to England determined to lose himself in the mundane pleasures of civilian life.
But this was not what he had in mind: being pursued by countless matchmaking mamas and their nubile young daughters, eager to ensnare him in their nets. In the current craze of victory celebrations, a wealthy, decorated war veteran made an extremely eligible matrimonial prize, Max had learned to his chagrin.
His mouth curled in a wry grimace. He had little appetite for fighting on the battlefield of love, especially when he had no interest in settling down in marriage just yet. But even the more seasoned beauties of the ton were vying for his attention now. Needing a respite from his popularity, he’d escaped the ballroom floor moments ago and sought refuge behind a palm.
What had happened to him? Before his army days, he hadn’t considered balls and soirees and garden parties so trivial. But perhaps the genteel challenges of the Beau Monde simply couldn’t match the satisfaction of saving Europe from the bloody machinations of a despot.
Or perhaps it was the women themselves who aroused his dissatisfaction. None of them had the honest charms of one particular woman he’d found impossible to forget.
His gaze narrowing, Max let his mind drift back as it had countless times since his mission of mercy more than a year ago.
He had never expected to discover a Mediterranean island paradise, or experience an enchanting night of passion with an innocent temptress. He hadn’t been able to forget that night on Cyrene or the bewitching woman who had offered him solace.
He was inclined to return to the island and seek out Caro Evers, simply to see if the magic he’d felt with her was real or the result of the extraordinary circumstances, if, during the long months of war, he had built her up in his memory into an impossible ideal.
“Don’t tell me you are in hiding!” an amused male voice broke into his reflections. “Don’t you realize how many belles you are disappointing?”
Lord Christopher Thorne stood before him, surveying him with wry understanding. They had met the previous year during Max’s brief visit to Cyrene, and in recent months had become friends.
“Here, perhaps this will help,” Thorne said, offering him a snifter of what looked to be brandy. “I thought you would prefer this to my aunt’s insipid punch.”