Review: Once Tempted

Once Tempted by Laura Moore

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is my first book from this author and I can say that I really enjoyed this book. Despite the slow -- and I mean, really slow pace during the first half of the book, the action did pick up during the second half.

Once Tempted is a story about two people who were burned once by love and found true and lasting happiness with each other. Ward, son of the owner of Silver Creek Ranch, was engaged to Erica. He found out that all she really wants was his money when she ran off and broke their engagement. So Ward pretty much kept women at a safe distance and swore never to be duped again.

Tess, a widow, was trying to escape the painful truths about her brief marriage to her ex, David, who died of brain tumor. With the help of a blindfold, a map and her best friend, Tess landed in Silver Creek Ranch, directly in the path of Ward.

And this is where the book frustrated me a bit. The moment Ward and Tess met, there was no tension or chemistry between them whatever. Aside from their brief meeting, the first part of the book was pretty much devoted entirely to the nitty-gritty of running a working ranch to the point of being mundane. Sure, there were interactions interactions here and there between Ward and Tess but their chemistry didn't materialize for me until about halfway through the book. That was when the author finally put their story front and center. It was only then that I felt the chemistry between them. I did heave a sigh of relief when it happened because the moment it did, the story then became interesting.

I'm glad I stuck around long enough to finish the book because I would have missed a very satisfying love story between Ward and Tess. And it was satisfying in spite of its abrupt ending. I mean, an epilogue would have been great addition though. Overall, I would still recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a light romantic read.

Review also posted here Ever Afters Book Blog


*This ARC was provided by Random House via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.



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