~ Review: Sweet Temptation ~

PLOT SYNOPSIS:  When Nicholas Champagne commissions artist Amanda Drake, a woman who is totally oblivious to his charms, to create a series of paintings, he soon realizes that he no longer wants a bachelor's life and vows to prove to Amanda that she is the only woman he wants.

REVIEW:  In 1998, just after the release of her debut book, I met Niqui Stanhope in a mall in Bridgetown, the capital city of the island of Barbados where I live.  She was doing a book signing, and we stood and talked for a short while.  The book was A NIGHT TO REMEMBER.  I purchased a copy of the book, and read it the same night.  The story was fine, but there was nothing special about it.  It was simply a few hours of reading pleasure.   Over the years, I’ve read each and every one of Ms. Stanhope’s releases, and have seen her writing improve with every book. 

When I closed SWEET TEMPTATION after spending a few days reading it, (SWEET TEMPTATION is to be slowly savored), I knew that Ms. Stanhope had written her best book to date.  There is evidence that not only has Ms. Stanhope has grown as a writer, but has also studied her craft.

SWEET TEMPTATION is as the title suggests – a wonderful temptation of the imagination of the reader…

Nicholas Champagne is a confirmed bachelor – a player in every sense of the word.  He definitely wants nothing to do with marriage, but ironically when we first meet him, he preparing for his brother’s wedding.  He has no idea what’s in store for him in the next few hours.

Enters Amanda Drake.  A woman bent on revenging her friend, Sheila.  When she sees him at the wedding he seems totally different from what she has been told.  But she’s convinced he pretending, and puts her plan into action.  Before the wedding is over, Nicholas finds himself… (sorry, you’re just going to have to read…).

Unfortunately, or should I say, fortunately, for Nicholas, he meets Amanda again after the wedding.  She’s been commissioned to do a series of painting for Gavin.  Inevitably, they must come in contact, and that is when the slow, cautious relationship begins to develop.  They cannot deny the attraction between them.

Ms. Stanhope’s forté is her characterization.  Along with Amanda and Nicholas, memorable secondary characters are essential to the vibrancy of the story.  Not only do we see Summer, Gavin, and Janet, but Nicholas’ crazy mother, Ester, and his daughter, Amber.  Amber is simply delightful.  Readers won’t forget her “naked” scene in the prologue.   She is definitely a little girl who “has a mind of her own.” 

Along with this, Ms. Stanhope takes the reader into the heart of Jamaica and introduces us to its sounds, its color and its rich culture.  The rhythms and feel of the tropical island are so strong that I felt as if I’d been transported to the island.

Ms. Stanhope has struck gold with SWEET TEMPTATION.  So please, takes a sip of its sweetness, and I’m sure you’ll agree with every word I’ve said.  A story deserving of all four and a half stars! Brava Ms. Stanhope!

8th December 2001