Tantalizing Maria (The Temptation Saga)

This review of Tantalizing Maria by Helen Hardy is for The Sweet Spot Sisterhood Blog. This is the 7th book in the Temptation Saga. It is an interconnected standalone, so no need to read the others in the series to understand what is going on. I hadn't read any of the other either. It is a run of the mill will they won't they second chance at love. I give it 3 Stars.

Maria and Jeff are my favorite couple in the Temptation Saga. What they have to overcome is seemingly insurmountable. It was a tense, sometimes stressful story to read. There is true heartbreak in this book. It was overall a wonderful book that put me through the ringer.

Wow! Loved this story of young love lost and second chances. This is such an emotional story of first love, bad choices, misunderstandings, years lost, hope, forgiveness, and a truly HEA ending. Jeff and Maria have such an enduring and lasting love and Helen hooks with you their story from page one. You will love this story!

Helen Hardt once again delivers an excellent read!! This is book 7 in this series and brings all of the emotions with it. I enjoyed reading about Maria and Jeff's past and seeing it come full circle. Tantalizing Maria can be read as a stand alone, but I recommend starting with book 1 and continuing though the series, you will not be disappointed.

I volunteered to read this as an ARC.

As usual Helen Hardt does not disappoint! The final book in the Temptation Saga. Although these books are a standalone read, I highly recommend having a bit of a binge week and read them all as they each make the next an even better read!
In this one Maria and Jeff have you on an emotional rollercoaster but leave you brimming with hope!
I am glad Helen is such a fantastic writer, so I know the pain of finishing the last of a series is healed by starting the next! Enjoy!

I absolutely loved Tantalizing Maria! What a fantastic book to end the series with. If you haven't read a Helen Hardt book, I suggest you purchase all of her books now and start reading - I promise, you won't regret it!

4.5 Stars

Tantalizing Maria is the seventh and final (for now?) book in Helen Hardt's Temptation Saga. While it can easily be read as a standalone, I recommend seeking out the previous books so that you can fully appreciate all of the characters.

Maria and Jefferson found each other and fell in love while they were young. Jeff was the bad boy you should probably stay away from, but couldn't help yourself falling for. When he ends up in prison for a crime he did not commit, Mia finds herself pregnant and alone. Left with few options and none of them desirable, she ends up with his brother so her unborn child can have the name and life she deserves. Jeff is extremely hurt by her betrayal, but he never stops loving her. When he is released from prison they are reunited and the chemistry is still there. Can these two overcome all of the baggage and hurt they are left with to find the true love that has always been there?

This is a second chance love story that features older characters (a very nice change from the age group usually represented in most stories these days) who need to overcome much adversity and angst to find their happy ending. Each chapter alternates between the past and the present letting their love story and the hard choices and betrayals felt by each unfold. I was instantly invested in their story and despite the things going against them I was rooting hard for them to reunite. It becomes quickly early on both Jeff and Mia are meant to be together and how strong their love is. This is definitely the type of story that will have you alternating between smiling and crying. My heart broke at certain points. Hardt has a unique writing style that I have enjoyed across this series, a series I'm sad to see end.

Awesome read, I enjoyed this book by Helen, and I highly recommend reading her books if you haven't already, you will not be disappointed. The way she writes her books is amazing and I am so glad I found her books. I cried in some parts and got mad in others, but never disappointed with her writing. Love her books.

Wow! Loved this story of young love lost and second chances. This is such an emotional story of first love, bad choices, misunderstandings, years lost, hope, forgiveness, and a truly HEA ending. Jeff and Maria have such an enduring and lasting love and Helen hooks with you their story from page one. You will love this story!

Helen Hardt once again delivers an excellent read!! This is book 7 in this series and brings all of the emotions with it. I enjoyed reading about Maria and Jeff's past and seeing it come full circle. Tantalizing Maria can be read as a stand alone, but I recommend starting with book 1 and continuing though the series, you will not be disappointed.

I volunteered to read this as an ARC.

Being the last book in the temptation series it's a must read, I couldn't put it down. The way that Helen draws her readers in, she makes you cry, laugh, even get angry. What starts out as revenge turns into a second chance at love. I definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

As usual Helen Hardt does not disappoint! The final book in the Temptation Saga. Although these books are a standalone read, I highly recommend having a bit of a binge week and read them all as they each make the next an even better read!
In this one Maria and Jeff have you on an emotional rollercoaster but leave you brimming with hope!
I am glad Helen is such a fantastic writer, so I know the pain of finishing the last of a series is healed by starting the next! Enjoy!

I absolutely loved Tantalizing Maria! What a fantastic book to end the series with. If you haven't read a Helen Hardt book, I suggest you purchase all of her books now and start reading - I promise, you won't regret it!

My word!! You will not be disappointed by this book, Helen has such a gift for words!!!! If you have not read the others in this series it's OK to start with this one although you will "get" more out of it to read them in sequence!! Got turns into a Helen fan through the Steel Brother series and this series is amazing as well!! Helen is an amazing writer and I can't wait for next release!!!!

Loved these books, but could only give the last one a four star rating as there was one big question that needed an answer. Nobody, managed to stay on Di'ablo the bull for eight seconds to win the purse!!???! One of the reasons I read all the books. ? a great read though...