Juliana Chase wants to be more than just a person in society giving token money to charities.  She wants to make a difference.  She wants to mean something.  Having pretty much given up on ever finding a happily ever after for herself, she sets her sights on making sure her friends are happy.  Nothing would make her more content than to see her friend Amanda paired with James Trevor, the Earl of Stafford.  If only he weren’t so stubborn.

The Earl of Stafford, Dr. James Trevor, has shut himself away from the heartache of losing his wife by immersing himself in work.  Being a doctor when most members of society are frivolous, James wants to make a difference.  Attracted to Juliana Chase from the moment he was first introduced to her, he does his best to thwart her determination to see him wed to her friend.  The fact of the matter is, James doesn’t want anyone other than the tempting Juliana.

I really liked the premise of Tempting Juliana.  Set in a time when most of English society didn’t worry about those less fortunate, I found Juliana’s character to be a rose among thorns.  Deep down in her heart, she wanted to make a difference.  Did she let her heart overrule her mind?  Sometimes.  And it was in those instances that I was treated to a very loving, gracious and totally captivating character.  Juliana made me smile and fact of the matter is, James made me drool.  His fascination with Juliana is steamy and often times sensuous and I found myself smiling at the ways he frustrated her by his lack of cooperation in her matchmaking attempts.  There was nothing I didn’t like about Tempting Juliana, and in fact, I plan to go back and read the first book of this trilogy titled, Lost in Temptation.   Lauren Royal is now on my official ‘authors to watch’ list.