A Lesson in Temptation (Stanton Family, #4) By Audra North
Professor Adam Harkness (Hotness) is given the gift of tango lessons. Something which he deems a waste of time, time in which he could be working on either grading papers, or writing his own book so he can be published and get tenure at Columbia University. Julie Stanton walks into her first tango lesson alone, ignoring all of the work that she has to do, but is committed to keeping her promise to herself of allowing time for her to live her life and just have fun. When Adam walks into Julie's class, memories of their first meeting years back come to light. Adam was Julie's TA in college, and one afternoon, they got a little too close while he was explaining a lesson. Nothing happened, and both brushed it off and forgot about it. Except, that neither one of them did. When Julie and Adam are paired as dance partners, Adam is reluctant to warn Julie that even though this is a six week class, he will only be attending the first one. Until the night ends, and Adam realizes he wants more.
Julie agrees to keep their blossoming relationship as a kind of sex without strings deal, until Julie starts falling back in love with her Professor Hotness.
When Julie starts making plans for after the dance classes end, Adam freaks out, and cuts all ties. Julie accuses him of being afraid of living and leaves.
For the most part, I really enjoyed this novella. It is part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone. While the author gave the reader background knowledge on her characters, it wasn't until the end of the story that Julie and Adam learned about each other, and what they learned was why they were both so driven. Adam is working so hard so he can send money back to his mother and sisters in North Dakota after their father made some bad investments with the family farm and then passed away. Julie is escaping the girls who used to bully her mercilessly back in high school. It was so bad that she had to change schools just to finish. She vowed to never let anyone take her self-esteem away from her, and even if it hurts, to try and live the life she wants, which means to put herself out there and do. Which is great advice for all of us who have been bullied in the past. Don't let the bitches get us down.
My only complaint, and it's silly, is that the author, in describing Julie's eyes, compared them to brand new pennies. Which, I immediately thought of as copper eyes, and how creepy. I'm hoping she meant shiny and bright. But that was just my pet peeve! Otherwise, this was a sweet, romantic story. Audra North I can always turn to author Audra North when I am looking for a quick, hot read. Her novellas never fail to disappoint and A Lesson in Temptation is a welcome addition to her series, The Stanton Family. Due to the restrictiveness of a short narrative, Ms. North is always able to sustain an entertaining plot, along with characters that are well developed.
Adam Harkness, or should I say Adam Hotness, has worked very hard to achieve a place on Columbia University's faculty. He has given up all of his free time, which includes some much needed fun, for the sake of finishing his publication and supporting his family back home in North Dakota. To force Adam to loosen up and have some fun, his good friends gave him a gift of tango lessons.
In order to save herself from the bullies in high school, Julie Stanton threw herself into her studies. A little more than a few years later, she graduated from Columbia with the highest honors and is now a senior analyst with a prestigious firm in New York City. Making friends and social connections has always been difficult for Julie, yet she puts herself out there time and time again.
Adam and Julie met in college, when Adam was a TA in one of Julie's classes. Their chemistry was magnetic back then and now it is even more so, when they find each other in the same dance class.
I liked this book and the entire Stanton Family series thus far. Ms. North is a talented storyteller and her characters are always well-defined, likeable and real. I appreciated how the personal details of both Adam's and Julie's past were discovered and slowly unraveled. The more time they spent together, the more they realized a fling was not in the cards. Overall, a sexy, fast-paced, enjoyable read with a hot cover.
Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review. Audra North
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To be honest I wasn’t expecting much from A Lesson in Temptation. Lately a lot of the short romances I have read have been disappointing so I was unfairly expecting this to be as well. Short romances are hard to get right because they essentially rely on one thing, chemistry. You can have a perfectly written novella with well-rounded characters and an engaging storyline but if there is no chemistry in the romance then the novella is going to fall flat on its face. A Lesson in Temptation wasn’t perfect I had issues with it but the one thing it had in spades was chemistry which meant that in the end I actually quite enjoyed it.
Audra North has created a nice little story with A Lesson in Temptation and for me it ticked a lot of the boxes. I quite liked her writing style, it is easy and enjoyable. This isn’t literary fiction by any means but there is enough description and world building to give this book some depth. The storyline was sweet, it was about two people who struggle socially coming together and that really worked for me. There was no over confidence, no swagger. It was awkward and uncomfortable and nice.
The characters were also great especially Julie. She wears her heart on her sleeve and goes for what she wants even though she is afraid and knows she might get hurt. I quite admire that courage and wish more romance female characters had it. I struggled a little more with Adam. I liked him but at times thought he was the most boring man ever (which was kinda the point but still). I was put off by his arguments for why he had to work all the time and never have fun. They didn’t really make sense and it was all a little wishy-washy. But as the story moved on and the romance developed he grew on me.
The romance itself was the star of this book. As I already mentioned the chemistry was great but it was more than that. The characters fit together so well, they were good for each other and belonged together.
A Lesson in Temptation was a really nice surprise for me. it had everything I like to see in a romance book. If you are a fan of the genre then I advise you to check this out, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Audra North **My thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing LLC, for providing me with a free copy for an honest review**
This was a very fast paced novella that spanned a period of 5-6 weeks and Tango classes.
A former student and her TA find themselves in a Tango class for two very separate reasons, however the attraction they had a few years ago is still very much there.
Both have their reasons as to why they work so hard, but whilst he excludes the fun, she is determined and works hard to make sure that she has some.
It's a sweet and fun and enjoyable read that seems to finish very quickly. Audra North I was about a quarter of the way into this one when I clicked over to Amazon (darn you, one click!) and bought the other three titles in the series. Fifteen minutes after finishing this one, I started on Healing Her Heart. No doubt the other two will follow soon (what? They're novellas. I can squeeze them in somewhere!)
Some of my favorite parts of this one were the times we were inside poor Adam's head. He tried so hard to stay focused on his goals and keep Julie out of his mind. Fortunately for us--and Julie--it didn't work.
This one had me laughing out loud at the dinner table--it's their dance instructor, giving them one of their first directions in the first class period and Adam's response:
Now, all of you, face your partner, and walk toward each other with your center leading. When you reach each other, walk backward to your starting place. With intention!”
Christ. First he was paired with the sexiest woman he’d ever known, and now he had to walk toward her with intention. If he intended anything more toward her, he’d be thrusting into her by the end of the class. Couldn’t he walk toward her with a vague interest instead?
Here's a little later in the same lesson:
Dancing while trying to suppress an erection was about as fun as it sounded.
They were still walking together, all the couples moving in a big circle. He had one hand just along Julie’s rib cage, and the other was pressed against her palm. His mind would not let go of that image of her open and ready—for him, and the contact was killing him. This close, he could see how perfect her skin was, and she smelled so good—
“Oops!” Another couple bumped into him from behind. He tripped forward into Julie. For a brief moment, they were pressed full-body against each other, breasts to chest, hip to hip, and…his cock almost jumped with relief at the feel of being pushed against her sweet, soft heat.
“Oh!” Her eyes flew wide and he jumped away, bringing them both to a full stop while the offending couple danced around them, completely unaware of the awkwardness that they’d left behind.
Just act like nothing happened.
He nearly laughed out loud. Julie Stanton had just felt his erection and his advice to himself was to feign ignorance? Moments like these made him question how he’d ever won that Fulbright Scholarship.
See? Poor Adam. And poor Julie, because she's only got a little over a hundred pages to convince this guy that he does, indeed need to loosen up--at least enough to let her in.
Fortunately for them both, she manages it nicely.
A Lesson in Temptation is a short, steamy read with laugh-out-loud moments. You don't have to have read the others in the series to enjoy it, but after this one you'll definitely want to. ;)
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
Audra North
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Adam Harkness pulled himself out of poverty to become one of the world's most respected Finance professors, but at the cost of his personal life. When a well-meaning friend gifts him with a dance course, Adam decides to attend one class out of courtesy, but no more than that. He has work to do, after all - or at least, that's what he tells himself.
After being bullied in high school, Julie Stanton took refuge in her studies. But now that her hard work has paid off and Julie has found success in her job, it's time to focus on finding the same happiness in the rest of her life.
When Adam walks into the same tango class that Julie signed up for, she recognizes him immediately as the professor whom she had a crush on in college. Both Adam and Julie have proven themselves to be excellent scholars. But when the attraction between them turns into something more, will they be able to open their hearts and learn a new lesson - how to love.
Each book in the Stanton Family series is a standalone, full-length novella that can be enjoyed out of order.
Series Order:
Book #1 Falling for the CEO
Book #2 One Night in Santiago
Book #3 Healing Her Heart
Book #4 A Lesson in Temptation A Lesson in Temptation (Stanton Family, #4)
A Lesson in Temptation is my first Audra North and I have a feeling its not going to be my last. This woman can write the heck out of a novella, delivering an emotional and scorching read that is so very worth your time. It’s not the cover alone that is out of this world sexy when it comes to A Lesson in Temptation, what lies inside is mind numbingly so!
A Lesson in Temptation is part of the Stanton Family series. With two full length novels and one novella already published in the series, A Lesson in Temptation reads just fine as a standalone and tells the story of Julie Stanton and Adam Harkness. Adam is highly ambitious, studious and doesn’t have time for distractions like falling in love. Having led a life that had been nearly at the edge of being poverty stricken had made Adam a stickler for hard work and even with a PhD under his belt with an impressive position as a Professor at the Colombia University, Adam still feels the need to push himself to achieve more.
When a friend offers a place at a dance class “Tango for Beginners” as a gift, Adam shows up more out of respect for the friend than anything else. He has no plans whatsoever of returning for a second class. But the moment he walks in and lays eyes on Julie, his intentions seems to crawl out the nearest window. Julie had been the one time he had nearly succumbed to temptation and the one who had got away of sorts.
For Julie, seeing “Adam Hotness” walk into the classroom had made her realize that when it comes to Adam, the attraction that had sizzled through her is very much alive even three years after. The Adam that takes her in his arms looks even more tense and distant than he had been back then and it makes Julie practically itch to make him loosen up just a little. What follows as a reluctant Adam finally gives in is as delicious as the glossy cover itself!
What made A Lesson in Temptation stand out is the fact that Audra managed to deliver an emotionally well rounded story in just a mere 100 plus pages. Adam’s ambitions, his fears and struggles comes out perfectly making him a mix of delicious contradictions; the studious and serious side of him that wars with the sexy, sinful and playful side. His ambition to overachieve is such that it blinds him to the best thing that happens to his life and this fact gave the story that bit of angst that made the novella that much more endearing.
Julie comes off as this bright and sunny personality when compared to Adam and the fact that Adam totally misreads Julie’s character gave a few surprises about Julie to the reader as well. Julie’s philosophy in life is simple.. Try and be happy as much as possible. And given her past, I admired Julie quite much on the point of her being able to move beyond all that and simply just have a positive attitude towards life.
If you want a short read that would give you an emotionally satisfying story with a hotter than sin hero whose reluctant attraction to the heroine makes things that much more fiery, then this is the read for you!
Most definitely recommended!
Rating = 4/5
Caliber SEAL: GREAT READ
For more reviews & quotes, visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com Audra North Audra North has placed herself firmly on my autobuy list. This lady can write a novella. From the opening page A Lesson In Temptation grabbed and with every element I love to find in a full length novel, albeit condensed, and I had the most pleasurable lunch-hour.
Finance Professor Adam Harkness isn't known as Prof Hotness for nothing. Sexy, witty and intelligent he is somewhat of a workaholic. When his friends sign him up on a 6 week dance course he's partnered with Julie Stanton, ex-student. She wanted him then, she wants him now and their lessons prove that the Tango is sexy. Upright or horizontal...
Sexy and sizzling, Adam and Julie had a perfect chemistry; he brooding and serious with a dirty thought process against her young confident and fun nature. All I will say is that their like-minded intelligence brings some very sexy action.
So if a short, sensual and very sexy read with wit and a bit of tension and angst thrown in is what you crave, then this is the book. I could have happily read a full length book on these characters, but in fairness, it didn't need to be any more than it was.
Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing via NetGalley for an honest & unbiased opinion
Audra North The novella A Lesson in Temptation, is the fourth story in the Stanton Family series. I read and enjoyed two of the previous stories found this one to be funniest.
Adam Harkness’s unshakable drive and insane work-ethic has landed him a coveted tenure-track position as Finance professor at Columbia. While a professorship gives him some measure of security, he is not about to let up and risk losing it all. Feeling the pressure to finish his book, he doesn’t want to slack off even for a night, but find himself under an obligation to attend a dance-class gifted to him by his colleague and mentor Naomi. Stressed and tense he walks into class and spots a familiar face across the room.
Ever since she put her horrible high school years behind her, Julie Stanton has been determined to make sure she enjoys living life, making the effort to make time for fun and play despite her demanding career. Feeling her work-life balance has dangerous skewed toward too-much work, she has signed up for a Tango class as treat/commitment to herself to get out and enjoy life.
Julie and Adam are both thrilled and mortified when they run into each other at class because a few years before Adam had been a TA for one of Julie's classes, and while they had both felt sparks , neither acted on them. Now, years later, they find themselves attempting to learn the most seductive of dances, while hiding their attraction. Despite his fears and reservations Julie entices Adam to embark on fling that will affect their lives in ways they both underestimate.
I thought this novella with incredibly funny with great banter, and even slapstick, but with a real sweet core. Adam is incredibly risk averse and shies away from his feelings from Julie, while at the same time failing to see the seriousness of her feelings or value what she brings to his life. There is great groveling and the resolution was sweet and perfect.
A review copy of A Lesson in Temptation was provided by Entangled Publishing via NetGalley. Audra North 4 - So should I call you Professor Hotness now? Stars!
Adam Harkness and Julie Stanton have history together, after being the TA in one of Julie’s finance classes in college and almost kissing her, Adam never expected to see her again.
Life for Adam is one long round of work, work, work, and as such when gifted a package of dance lessons from a couple of concerned friends in the hope he will get out and live a little, he is less than thrilled to be giving up his time for what he considers is a total waste of his time. That is until he walks in and see’s Julie, all grown up and now not off-limits...
She’s a distraction. Not to mention vibrant, and beautiful, and fun. Everything he wasn’t.
I loved Julie, she was a fighter and even though had suffered a few knockbacks in her past she wasn’t afraid to put herself out there for Adam, even if it meant getting hurt.
She’d though about him for years. Wanted him for years.
Sexy Professor Harkness was an absolute treat too, nifty with his feet on the floor, dirty with his everything between the sheets and sweetly vulnerable the rest of the time.
”How do you make me forget about all the things hanging over my head?”
Audra North’s Stanton Family Novella Series, is fast becoming one of my favorites, although short the stories are well developed and easy to lose yourself in for an hour or two. I would love to see a full length romance novel from this author at some point in the future; I love her writing and would like to spend more than a couple of hours enjoying the pleasure of reading her words.
ARC supplied via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review. Audra North
4 Stars! From the vertical tango to the horizontal tango, this was a fun, flirty, sexy novella.
I was charmed by Adam's quirkiness, and amused by his dogged determination to put his career goals before his own needs and pleasure, and not to enjoy life. Julie was the complete opposite and was hell-bent on living life to the fullest. Their mutual attraction started years ago when neither of them was in the position to act on it, but now Julie had the opportunity to set things in motion and she was ready to take on the challenge. Adam didn’t stand a chance!
“When we move, we must lead—and follow—with the center of our body,” Ivana told the class, pointing to a place just beneath her breasts and gliding backward. “If your center does not come first, you will find it difficult to dance tango. That means straight backs, don’t let your arms flop all about, and don’t tiptoe around and lose your balance. Now, all of you, face your partner, and walk toward each other with your center leading. When you reach each other, walk backward to your starting place. With intention!”
Christ. First he was paired with the sexiest woman he’d ever known, and now he had to walk toward her with intention. If he intended anything more toward her, he’d be thrusting into her by the end of the class. Couldn’t he walk toward her with a vague interest instead?
Lots of sizzle and sexual innuendos! Julie and Adam tangoed their way from the dance floor to the bedroom and this enjoyable journey was filled with light-hearted moments, intense passion and witty dialogue. For a novella it was nearly a complete package, but it lacked a little in the end and while it was sweet, it was very abrupt! However, I enjoyed the Audra North’s writing and storytelling so much, that I want read the entire Stanton Family Novella series.
*A copy of the book was provided by Entangled: Edge in exchange for an honest review* Audra North