Thrice-widowed Lady Violet Carrington revels in her freedom. She has a great deal of money, no husband to control her and a wonderful young lover. The negatives in her life are few. There are those who do not receive her despite her discretion in taking lovers. Violet lives in the moment as she tries to forget her past and ignore her future. Her life is close to perfect until her latest young lover issues an ultimatum. They will marry or it is over between them.

Lord Peter St. John adores Violet. The age difference does not bother him nor does her scandalous past. Experience has made her into the woman he loves. However, he has his work cut out for him. Violet believes their differences are insurmountable. Peter cajoles, seduces and finally informs Violet that until she sees him as a man and not a temporary dalliance, they cannot continue. Circumstances throw them together and Peter realizes life without Violet will not have the fullness or happiness he desires. He must convince her to trust him with their future.

Violet is tired of making choices that end badly. Dealing with Peter puts her in turmoil and then her sister appears with more problems. The choices are few and Violet is frightened to tell Peter her dilemma. Once again, Violet must choose and she is terrified that the wrong choice will cause her to lose everything she holds dear.

Debut author Lavinia Kent bursts upon the scene with a very sensual tale of a woman whose past makes her crave control in her life. Ms. Kent teams her with a confident and vibrant man providing readers with a sensitive and touching story.

Book Summary

She was blessed with a gift of temptation.

Violet, Lady Carrington, possesses everything a spirited woman could want out of life. Money (and lots of it). The freedom to make her own choices, with no husband to rule her. And a delightfully attentive young lover, Lord Peter St. Johns, to satisfy her every wild whim. But Peter desires more than Violet's lascivious attentions. He's desperate for her heart—and her hand in marriage.

Yet with a toss of her russet curls, Violet refuses. A man like Peter belongs with a naïve, blushing beauty, not a luscious lady with a talent for sin, and she would rather die than be beholden to anyone. But try as she might, she cannot convince him—or herself—that their tantalizing dalliance is a mere trifle. Perhaps Lady Carrington has finally met her match—a man who will love but not control her, a man who can meet her wickedness with a fierce passion of his own . . .