Lorraine Heath can be relied on for three things:
1) plotlines that seem slightly bonkers on the surface but feel utterly natural once you're enmeshed in the characters she's created and the world they inhabit;
2) the most perfectly-phrased descriptions of complicated emotions;
3) almost convincing me that there's no possible way these characters are going to get a happy ending (and then pulling it off!).

After a traumatic rail accident, Viscount Langdon retreats to a rocky island off the coast of his family's estate to heal in solitude. He's grieving the confident, capable heir he was prior to the accident, and figuring out how to proceed both in society and in his tight-knit family. Walking along the cliffs in the midst of a storm, Langdon sees a woman's unconscious body wash ashore. He hauls her up to his tiny castle, discovering while he tends her wounds that he recognizes her. Marlowe is the longtime mistress of one of his aristocratic acquaintances and a notorious London courtesan (with one name, like Madonna or Shakira!). She is also a part-time aeronaut, with her own hot air balloon that had unexpectedly drifted into the path of a storm.

The two have a very brief yet impactful past interaction that they must reckon with while waiting out the rain and rough waters. Naturally, they are majorly attracted to each other, but Marlowe is loyal to her benefactor, so they must bond on a deeper emotional level before a romantic or sexual one. Langdon can be prickly, and often makes offhand comments aimed at shocking Marlowe or getting a rise out of her--as if he's trying to push her away rather than navigate his complicated emotions. But there's nothing like the trope of forced proximity (only one bed, naturally) to force characters into uncomfortable situations!

I was reading around 15% a night until I hit the 45% mark and could somehow no longer put my Kindle down. I got to 80%, realized I would have to either commit to finishing the book or commit to being a functioning human being at work the next day, and somehow managed to get to sleep. I was really enjoying the couple's time alone on Langdon's island, but once Heath threw "the real world" into the mix, I was rapt. These two felt so real, their emotions so vivid. For me, it was wondrously angsty catnip.

If you're already a Lorraine Heath fan, you'll love this book. I think fans of the way Sherry Thomas writes complicated, angsty emotions and couples that seem impossible will also enjoy this book quite a bit. If you're looking for a historical with a unique heroine (commoner, has to provide for herself, not a virgin, has a cool hobby, fiercely determined and independent) or hero (invisible disability, close relationship with his family and two lovely alive parents, an absolute yearner, respects and admires strong women)--this is IT. READ IT.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Lorraine Heath knows how to write a hell of a love story. I was so excited to read the story of the “Devil” Earl of Claybourne’s son, Viscount Oliver Langdon. Heath excels at writing somewhat tortured or flawed heroes, and when we first meet Langdon, he has isolated himself on an island in the middle of a storm, believing himself to have gone mad and praying to the heavens for a woman. When said woman literally washes up on his shore, it would rock any sane man’s world, especially if it is the most desired courtesan in all of London. And it’s in this moment that we discover the true nature of Langdon. He is gentlemanly even though he doesn’t want to be, he withholds his judgment, and is open to receive the gift of Marlowe that the winds have brought him.

While reading this I felt that I knew Langdon and Marlowe’s hearts and I desperately wanted them to be together. On the island, they’re in an isolated bubble that surely cannot exist once they return to London where instead of two souls who have so much in common, they are a titled gentleman and a notorious courtesan. In true Heath fashion, both hero and heroine are so desirous for each other, but it seems impossible that they will ever get their HEA. In fact I was at 96% wondering HOW they would possibly be together, but thank goodness romance rules ensures that love IS the outcome. This is a book I wanted to pace myself through because it was so tender, so heartbreakingly beautiful that it felt good just to sit in those moments. Nothing is better than reading words on a page that let you feel the love characters have for one another. And A Tempest of Desire is filled with SO. MUCH. LOVE. It was like revisiting old friends seeing Langdon’s family and friendly “relatives” such as James Swindler, and each cameo is exactly what I would’ve wanted. And like an old friend I know I will revisit this story and it’s connecting worlds again and again. I received an early copy from the publisher, but still preordered the book, because hello! it’s going to be a reread. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Steam: 🪭🪭.5
Swoons and romantic gestures: 🎈🎈🎈🎈
Read it again: 💯

A Tempest of Desire is the story of Marlow and Oliver, Viscount Langdon. Marlowe is currently mistress to Lord Hollingsworth but when he offers her to Viscount Langdon for a few hours if he wins theìir card game, she is thrilled to observe his winning hand. Fast forward ~ 1 year later, Marlowe is marooned on Oliver’s (Viscount Langdon) island. Marlowe is battered and bruised from falling from her hot air balloon and the basket was ruined. Oliver allows her to remain in his home until she is recovered enough to return to London. As they are in such close proximity to each other without a chaperone, they are again faced with the attraction they have for each other. Both Marlowe and Oliver have secrets that they don’t want to share and Marlowe is still under the protection of her benefactor, Lord Hollingsworth. Marlowe doesn’t want to be mistress to Oliver and he as the heir to an earldom must have an acceptable lady for his wife. A Tempest of Desire is another great installment to the Scandalous Gentlemen of St.
James series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Avon, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

What I liked: Langdon and Marlowe, individually and together. They’re both very interesting leads with depth in their backstories and the issues they’re dealing with now. I loved their chemistry but also the moments when they had serious conversations. Loved that Marlowe was not the typical histrom heroine, and that her ballooning hobby was something new and unexpected to read about.

What I didn’t like: the constant reminders that Marlowe has a “protector” and is technically in a relationship with someone else. And while I thought the beginning and end of the novel were super strong, the middle bit of them clearly being in love but not figuring out how to be together was a little repetitive. I understood where they were both coming from, but they seemed to have the same conversation 5 times and it could have happened a couple less.

Still, Lorraine Heath really does no wrong in her histroms and I’ll happily keep reading them.

Heath does such a phenomenal job of creating such atmospheric novels. The reader can almost feel the wind and rain lashing as well as Langdon's struggle with feeling he is slowly going mad. I sure love a broody hero who has yearned after the FMC from afar and Langdon fits this so well. Prior to his accident he set out to find himself a mistress, but after one look at Marlowe from across the room, he knows no one else would do and with her well protected he has no plan on moving in on another man's mistress. But post accident, his life has been irrevocably changed and he has a secret he tries to keep hidden, one that has him becoming more and more reclusive.

Marlowe is a FMC that I adored from the moment she opens her eyes to a delicious sight of Langdon's bare backside. Their prior brief meeting at a card game where the anti to the pot was time with Marlowe, and with the knowledge that Langdon threw his cards in order to purposely lose, still has her at odds with her undeniable (and unwelcomed) attraction to him.

From the opening of chapter 1, I knew that this was going to be the kind of novel that would be even more enjoyable in audiobook and was so glad to be able to preorder the audiobook which has a fantastic male narrator. His voice for Langdon had me pausing just to press the headphones even more in my ear to listen to his delicious tone. I was so thankful to have received an eARC in exchange for an honest review, which I read along while listening to the audiobook I purchased myself. It pairing made me enjoy the story so much!

I have been waiting I believe 7 long years for Langdon's book, so you know once I stumbled upon the place holder for A TEMPEST OF DESIRE on Lorraine Heath's website with a note that it was Langdon's book, it was on my radar, and I jumped on the chance to read this one as soon as possible. Did this derail my quest to read Lorraine Heath's full backlist in order as a 2024 goal? Yes, but I don't care. It was worth it.

The best way for me to describe it is if Bridgerton Season 3 made hot air ballooning relevant and there was more of it + Waking Up with the Duke (why yes, also by Lorraine Heath).

The forced proximity, no mouth kissing, the pining, the angst. The how is the author going to get these two stubborn people their HEA anxiety. GIVE IT TO ME.

This was a story of two people that had faced adversity in their lives. He was there to save her life after her hot air balloon crashed into the sea. She helped him with a long-term difficulty that he had acquired after a train crash. He was a nobleman and she, unfortunately, was a courtesan. Despite the odds, they managed to come together regardless of how society might have felt about their union.
The story was well-written and it made me shed a few tears. I received a free ARC from BookSirens and this is my honest review.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, steamy and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Lorraine Heath never fails to deliver complex characters, and the trials and tribulations that shapes them. Marlowe, the heroine, leads an unconventional life as a courtesan. Langdon, is hiding from his troubles, keeping secrets from his family. How can two so very different people fall in love? Take some tropes of forced proximity, only one bed, lack of clothing and add in a dash of deep conversations and you will have your answer. While Langdon is a bit of a dunderhead about wanting Marlowe as his mistress, this is a romance novel of the very best kind.

Spoiler Alert: they get together at the end.

I never miss a Lorraine Heath novel, and love the continuation of this series!

This was a quieter, more introspective romance that was character-forward and plot-light. If that's your jam, you'll adore A Tempest of Desire. It wasn't mine, but it's a well-done slow-burn romance that I think is worth trying, especially when you're in the mood for a more low-stakes plot.

What I really like about this book is its portrayal of one aspect of historical sex work and sex workers, namely, the celebrity courtesan. These were women who made careers of being mistresses to wealthy, powerful men. Our heroine Marlowe (who goes by one name! The true mark of celebrity) is actually under the "protection" of one of these men when she meets, and falls for Langdon. The situation is portrayed in a pretty pragmatic way: Hollingsworth treats Marlowe well and even helps her move on later, but you always feel acutely aware of the power differential (see: Hollingsworth "offered" Marlowe to Langdon some years before the book and no matter how well-intentioned it was because their chemistry was palpable.... YIKES) and that theirs is ultimately a transactional relationship— which isn't a judgement on the heroine, to be clear.

Langdon is an enormously charming hero even though said charm is pretty rusty when he first meets Marlowe— understandable considering he's been a recluse for a while now and is suffering from PTSD after an accident. Like, our intro to the man is him drunkenly wandering his own island like a tragic gothic hero pondering upon the sublime and wildness of nature— and lo and behold, who should appear in the midst of a storm just as he's begging god for a woman, but Marlowe in her hot air balloon. Still, Langdon has this natural seductive appeal you know he put to FULL use before his accident, and once he warms up to Marlowe, all bets are off. And obviously Marlowe isn't easily shocked, but she's very titillated by the idea of cracking this self-contained man's restraint. So there's a lot of long, chemistry-laden conversations while they're stranded Langdon's secluded island home, with some HEAVY sexual tension they don't really act on until midway through the book.

Except Langdon kind of ruins it when he makes the inevitable mistress proposition to Marlowe right after. Again, I really like how Lorraine Heath dealt with this aspect of the plot, because it's not like Marlowe is offended by this proposition, but she doesn't want the same relationship with Langdon that she has with her current protector. To be clear, she doesn't regret any of her past choices in choosing to be a career mistress, but she wants to move on on her own terms. And it's not like Langdon judges her for her career either, but like most men of his class, there's a clear disconnect in his mind between a mistress and a wife, and that's the gap he needs to bridge for their HEA.

The sex:

I think this is one of Lorraine's more restrained books, sex-wise. I appreciate what we get, and it makes sense for this couple. There's also a lowkey desperate vibe to most of the sex scenes because Langdon and Marlowe a self-imposed deadline on when they can be together. Standout scene was probably a very hot, very desperate carriage scene where Langdon tries one final time to stake a claim on Marlowe and it's actually so DESPERATE but also quite hot.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 3.5/5
Publication Date: December 24th

A Tempest of Desire
Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James Series - Book 5
By Lorraine Heath
Avon - December 2024
Historical Romance

Viscount Langdon may have survived a train accident, but he couldn’t escape the memories or the consequences. He wished for solitude, so had escaped to his family's island. His family's concern kept them appearing periodically, but the brutal storm that had arrived should have guaranteed complete isolation for a few days. Except he had discovered a woman had washed ashore. Fear had gripped him that others might have perished in the accident, but thankfully she had been alone flying in a hot-air balloon. He should not have been surprised that London's most famous courtesan was also an intrepid aeronaut.

Marlowe knew she was lucky to be alive. She'd made a miscalculation that had almost cost her life. Mistakes were not something she could afford. Not only in her hobby, but also as a courtesan. She'd made a calculated decision due to consequences not of her making, but she was very aware of the precarious position she was in. She had been drawn to Langdon from the moment she'd first seen him, but she knew she needed to keep her distance from him.

With him, she would lose her heart, and she knew a courtesan like her could never have a future with an earl's heir.

A Tempest of Desire returns readers to familiar characters and places from multiple series, but completely stands on its own. Of course, it was exciting to see who would be next to pop in to visit Langdon. He has a large support system of family and friends, but is stubbornly failing to deal with the effects of the accident on his own. Essentially the opposite is the case for Marlowe. It was wonderful to see them navigate the difficulties set before them and fight for a future together. I also loved learning a bit about the history of ballooning.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

Lorraine Heath is the best.

Lorraine Heath is a superb writer who never fails to deliver. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series (and how it overlapped with the last). So, its sad to see this one wrap up so beautifully. She takes a trope and digs in deep.

When Langdon asks for a woman, one is delivered to him in the form of Marlowe, a notorious courtesan. She is a daring in her hot air ballon that crashes on Langdon's island. I guess ask and you shall receive? They get to know each other while keeping secrets. They both have secrets to keep. They have chemistry and plenty of sparks and both have lived complicated lives.
Highly recommend.
Get this book! I did. I may have bought a spare or two, its so good.

For some reason I thought this was a Beauty and the Beast trope and that the hero was stuck in this castle because he was hideous. Idk where I got all that from but this is not that. The hero Viscount Langdon is hiding out because he got conked in the head in a train accident and now has some issues he is trying hard to hide from his loving family. Langdon is the son of the Devil Earl from the first book on the Scoundrels of St James series. A woman literally drops out of the sky and he rescues her, they get stranded in the castle because of a bad storm and commence the forced proximity! Marlowe is a very notorious courtesan and Langdon is the hero to an earldom. So obviously it's tres scandalous.

I'm pretty torn on the book. On the one hand, it was a sweet slow burn but I felt the first 50% kind of dragged. They are in the castle the whole time and nothing much happens. I liked the tropes and I also adored seeing my faves from the St James series (Scoundrels and Gentlemen). I liked Langdon although he was kind of generic as a hero tortured because of his invisible disability but there wasn't much to him. Marlowe was the star of the book and I really wish her relationship with her protector wasn't such a huge part of the book. Her lover was a good man and did his best to prepare her for her life as a fallen woman. But while he's physically absent from the page until the last half, his name is mentioned in almost every chapter! I also disliked the fact that Marlowe was having sex (oral sex is sex) with Langston while still technically in a relationship with another man. Cheating is a hard pass for me and this felt like cheating because she was truly fond of him. That was another problem for me, I am a jealous reader and dislike my MCs being hung up on other people. She wasn't exactly hung up on him but she loved him. I also didn't love the scene where Marlowe is introduced to the future wife of her now ex by him. The poor woman had no idea she was meeting her fiance's notorious mistress. It felt yucky.

In the end, I never felt a romantic connection between Langdon and Marlow. There was a lot of lust and steamy scenes (including a delicious carriage tryst) but I never really saw them falling in love. Langdon's sudden willingness to marry her after only wanting to make her his mistress was not convincing for me. Overall, it seems like Heath is toning down her bonkers twisty plots and I'm kind of bummed about it.

I've received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion

⭐⭐⭐/5
🔥🔥/5

Tropes
One bed
Forced proximity
Courtesan
Forbidden relationship

I am a good get Lorraine Heath fan. I am am auto buy for her books. That being said, this was not one of my favorites.
The majority of the story takes place on an isolated island and with only the Hero and Heroine there.
The heroine, Marlowe, is an aeronaut, a ballonist. She crash lands during a storm on an isolated island.
The hero, Langdon, is staying on the island to recover mentally from a very bad train wreck. When he sees a women unconscious on the beach he rescues her and brings her back to the house.
They have met before. But this is where the story takes place between just the two of them.
I found it a little slow, boring. I also thought it ended as suddenly. He went from never being able to marry her, to proposing. What changed his mind? Did he discuss it with his family? I thought those questions needed answering.
3⭐⭐⭐
I want to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Miss Lorraine Heath reminds us again why she is a legend in the historical romance space. I love the second generation revisited in the Scoundrels of St. James series and the return of seeing Lucian and Catherine again! Can't believe it's been so many years in between books, but what a joy it was to return to the world.

It was a beautiful story of two lost souls finding each other. Marlowe is a refreshing heroine who is not ashamed of the choices she's made as a courtesan, and is extremely loyal, kind, and understanding. Oliver (Ollie!) is our Viscount Langdon who is dealing with his own issues post trauma and injury. I really loved the first half of story just the two of them in their own world, but the last half felt so quick - almost too quick. I really wanted a sucker punch tension or angsty moment as many historical romances do given the high-stakes nature of the world. Hollie had a real moment to become this villain that would've added another layer. It felt a little strange that he was this all important friend who was in fact, incredibly selfish with the way he handled his betrothal and their previous relationship. All that is to say though, I still really enjoyed this read.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me a copy to read in exchange for a review.

4.5 stars rounded to 5

A Tempest of Desire is the fifth book in Heath's Scandalous Gentleman of St James series. I've read most but not all and had no issues with reading this one like a standalone. I always really enjoy Heath's writing and this book was no exception.

Langdon is becoming a bit of a recluse and has retreated to his private island estate to get away. During a storm, a woman washes up on his shore but Langdon immediately recognizes her as the infamous courtesan, Marlowe. Langdon was smitten the first time he saw her but knew she could never be his. Marlowe is an aeronaut in her free time but known as a courtesan. She is becoming restless and knows the relationship with her current paramour is coming to an end. She recklessly goes up in her balloon during a storm and crash lands on Langdon's island. They are stuck weathering out the storm together and facing their past rejections.

Langdon is dealing with a lot but he keeps it all to himself. He has an opportunity to spend one night with Marlowe after winning her in a card game but decides to throw the round instead. He knows that one night will never be enough. When Marlowe lands on his island, he instantly needs to take care of her. I liked how a lot of the book took place only on the island and how they were disappointed when the weather was clear enough for them to go back to civilization. I know some people will have an issue with the "cheating" aspect. I didn't really have an issue with it since Hollingsworth explicitly gives consent on page for them to have some dalliance prior. Heath did an excellent job with how she portrayed the whole protector storyline and it didn't feel like cheating to me. Langdon's family was delightful and it was a breath of fresh air to not read about the heir having a terrible family.

Tropes include: courtesan, forced proximity, aeronaut heroine, class difference, only one bed, remote island, hero hiding a secret, pining hero

Thank you to Lorraine Heath, NetGalley, and Avon Harper Voyager for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #NetGalley #LorraineHeath #ATempestofDesire #AvonHaperVoyager

Ahhhh, this was a breath of fresh air. And another reason why Lorraine Heath is a Queen.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one but I have been craving a really good HR. I have been a bit disappointed by recent releases in this sub-genre. Lorraine Heath never lets me down though. It felt so good to be back in a familiar world, with characters I've loved before.

I really connected with both Langdon and Marlowe. Both feel isolated in different ways and this small island escape is the perfect representation of that. Langdon has had a life-changing injury occur because of a train accident and he is struggling to hide it from his loved ones. So when Marlowe's Hot Air Balloon dumps her on his beach during a storm, they are forced to cohabitate for a short time.

They do know each other from society and there was even been some attraction in the past. But they were both wearing masks back then. This current situation strips them of all that and the way they bond was touching and beautiful.

When we entered the next phase of the story, I was very on edge. Courtesan and Mistress romances are hard for me to handle if not done properly. The angst of it twists me up. These two see each other so clearly and I just ached for them to get it right. Even knowing our HEA would come about.

I ended up enjoying the unique situations and struggles they faced and I was tearing up with joy by the end. Lorraine Heath really did well by this tale and I look forward to many more stories from her in the future.

A Tempest of Desire is the most recent addition to the Scandalous Gentleman of St. James series. I’ve only read the first book in the series, but that didn’t deter my enjoyment of this one! I had such a fun time with this book.
My favorite part of this book was the setting. The book starts with the heroine, Marlowe, mysteriously washing up on the shore outside Langdon’s (the hero) home. Langdon finds Marlowe, unconscious, and brings her into his home to care for her until she regains consciousness.
Langdon is at his family’s private island to cope with an accident he was recently in and as he tries to come to terms with the ramifications of that accident. No one is at this private island but Langdon, so it’s up to him to care for Marlowe until she comes back around.
Marlowe is one of London’s most notorious courtesans who was riding in her hot air balloon when she lost control in a storm and crashes into the ocean.
I loved the first half of the book when it was just Langdon and Marlowe on the island. I know it seems like it would be boring and slow with only two characters for majority of the book, but Lorraine Heath creates such wonderful characters that I didn’t even mind. Honestly, when they reentered society is when I began to lose a bit of interest. I loved the beachy setting of the book and I’ve never read a book where hot air balloons are such an integral part of the story before.
I loved this book so much and can’t wait for Lorraine Heath’s next one!
I received an ARC from the publisher, all thoughts in this review are my own.

I didn't realize Ms. Heath had had some serious health challenges while writing this book and I was crying at the dedication and the acknowledgements.

Viscount Langdon one of the children of the characters of the Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James books. The family owns a small private island that has one castle on it. Langdon was the victim of a train derailment a year ago and is plagued by nightmares and often prefers to be alone on the island.

Marlowe is a courtesan who also flies hot air balloons. One night, during a storm, her balloon crashes on his island. He rescues her.

What follows is almost akin to a play setting - in that a great deal happens over the course of just a couple days, all within just a few rooms of the house, just between the two of them. The author is a MASTER of creating crackling se*ual tension, longing and desire with just two people in a single room. Pure perfection. The incindiary LOOKS. The other person is off-limits and they know it. How they tiptoe around each other. She's only wearing his shirt. Ms. Heath is at the top of her game.

I wished they cloud have just stayed there alone, the entire book in their own little paradise. Pure magic. Once they left the castle it lost a little bit of the sparkle for me.

Another character I want to talk about is Marlowe's benefactor or patron, Hollie. He wasn't really meant to be the villain, per say, but he really gave me the creeps. Just by the way he thought he owned her and taught her everything thing she knew - acckk. Very icky. Very gross in a grooming way. I felt sorry for the gal he eventually married. When we had a scene with him in it I felt like I needed to take a shower.

Anyway, I loved the book and Marlowe and Langdon. Strong addition to the St James series.

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Rating: 4.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. I just love Lorraine Heath's writing and how she creates and develops her characters. I liked that the FMC was a mistress, she had a life-and-death experience, and ended up on a remote island with the MMC. The MMC had to care for her, and honestly forced proximity is one of my favorite tropes. I enjoyed the plot of this one as well as Heath's writing. Definitely one I would recommend if you enjoyed Lorraine Heath and the Scandalous Sentiment of St. James series. Also, I love how this is a spin-off of a different series.