Re-Read Challenge Review: Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

Posted December 31, 2009 by Tracy in Reviews | 7 Comments

Turn Left at Small Town Secrets

Sophie Dempsey is content living a quiet life filming wedding videos until an assignment brings her to Temptation, Ohio. From the moment she drives into town, she gets a bad feeling; Sophie is from the wrong side of the tracks and everything in Temptation is a little too right. And when she has a run-in with the town’s unnervingly sexy mayor, Phineas Tucker, making a little movie turns out to be more than a little dangerous.

Yield to Oncoming Desire

All Sophie wants to do is film the video and head home. All Phin wants to do is play pool with the police chief and keep things peaceful. They both get more than they bargained for when Sophie’s video causes an uproar and the proper citizens of Temptation set out to shut them down.

Welcome to Temptation

As events spiral out of control, Sophie and Phin find themselves caught in a web of gossip, blackmail, adultery, murder, and really excellent sex. All hell breaks loose in Temptation as Sophie and Phin fall deeper and deeper in trouble …and in love.

Sigh…I love this book. I loved it the first time I read it (and this was my very first Crusie book) and I loved it this time around. I loved getting to know all the citizens of Temptation all over again and of course revisiting Phin and Sophie’s love affair.

I think what I like most about the book, besides it’s wonderfully witty banter is the fact that we got to see the story from all angles. We were in Sophie’s head, we were in Phin’s head, we were in Amy’s head for a bit and Davy’s too (Sophie and Amy’s brother). The story wasn’t one sided so even if the person was saying one thing out loud we were allowed a glimpse into their head to see what they were really thinking and personally I appreciated that. Although I’ve become fond of 1st person pov, which I loathed just a mere year ago, 3rd person pov is still my favorite way to read a story.

Sohpie and Phin’s relationship was great from the word go, imho. Even though they resisted each other for only a day it was enough for the reader to want for them to be together. And they had such great senses of humor that it made the sex fun even when it was intense. The two also kept their sense of humor, or mostly, when it seemed the town was turning against them.

The townspeople were also quite engaging. There’s a lot going on with Sophie and her family and the non-porno porno film they’re making and it sets the whole town on its ass. Crusie just has a way of bringing the entire cast of characters together in such a cohesive way that you don’t feel overwhelmed.

Overall a wonderful re-read!

Rating in 2007 (when I read it originally): 5 out of 5

Rating now: 5 out of 5

All my thanks to Nath for holding this great re-read challenge! I’ve re-read some books this year that I probably never would have unless I had to…and since I joined the challenge – I had to! lol It was fun Nath, thanks again!


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7 responses to “Re-Read Challenge Review: Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

  1. A Jennifer Cruise book I haven't read. I read Bet Me over a year ago (and loved it!) and went on a Jennifer Cruise gloom…but this one passed me buy. I might wemble to the library this week and see if they have it 🙂

  2. You're welcome Tracy 🙂 I'm planning on continuing hosting the challenge next year. Hope to see your reviews 😀

    I love this book. It's really one of the best 😀 However, I think I've read it too many times in the first few years… I think I burned out on it a little 🙁

  3. This is a great book! I love Jennifer Crusie's sense of humor and this book is classic for it. Manhunting is another top Jennifer Crusie book.

  4. Orannia – I hope you were able to find it – I think it's my favorite Crusie with Bet Me a close second. 🙂

    Chris – how could you not? lol

    Nath – I don't know if I'll join the re-read challenge officiall this year as I've already committed to 2 other challenges but I may join in now and then. 🙂

    Kay – I really enjoyed reading it again – hopefully you will too!

    Mariana – I've liked most Crusie's that I've read. I have LOVED all of them but there's just something about her writing. Yes! manhunting is another favorite.

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