Spinster Willow Mabson devotes her time to caring for her mentally unstable mother. Her only relaxation is as a member of the Ladies' Amateur Sleuth Society. While at a dinner party, Willow meets Inspector James Sterling. He's the very man whose career she's been following and sending anonymous letters to on how to improve his investigative skills. After a short conversation, James realizes Willow is the letter-writing pest. When he demeans her suggestions, a furious Willow issues a challenge. She will solve his next criminal investigation before he can.

Scotland Yard Inspector James Sterling, the second son of a peer, takes his career seriously. After seeing discrimination as a youth, James devotes his life to seeking justice for the underprivileged. When he meets the nuisance who criticizes his talent, he takes umbrage at her jabs and agrees to her preposterous challenge.

When a famous photographer is murdered, it becomes critical that Willow solve the case as the clues point toward her mother or father as the killer. Desperate to prove her parents' innocence, Willow joins James in investigating the murder. Thrown closely together with James, Willow's famous control over her emotions begins unraveling. Since they are as opposite as day and night, Willow and James are confounded by the desire that flares between them.

Ms. DeHart's third Ladies' Amateur Sleuth Society novel has an irresistible charm. The characters are an unconventional delight. She builds sympathy for Willow's dilemma with her mother while giving her the perfect hero to ease her woes. TEMPTED AT EVERY TURN is a nice addition to this series and builds the drama for the final installment.

Book Summary

Proper, sensible Willow Mabson will do anything to protect her family. So when she finds out that James Sterling — a dashing, arrogant aristocrat working for Scotland Yard — suspects her mother in a recent murder, Willow will do whatever's necessary . . . even solve the case herself! Of course, this will bring her into a most uncomfortable proximity with the very tantalizing Mister Sterling. And try as she might, she finds resisting him her most difficult challenge.

James has always preferred gritty crime scenes to elegant balls. And he can immediately deduce that straight-laced, whip-smart — and exceedingly delectable — Willow isn't your average vapid, shallow socialite. He longs to release her carefully restrained sensuality and tempt her into losing control. But James doesn't count on risking his own heart in the process.