> At a Glance
> – Garcelle Beauvais reprises her role as chef Ava Denis in Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted 2 Love, premiering January 31 at 8/7c on Lifetime
> – The sequel follows Ava navigating love between her current boyfriend Ellis (Boris Kodjoe) and returning flame Luke (Vaughn W. Hebron)
> – Beauvais executive produces the film under her expanded partnership with Lifetime
>
> Why it matters: The film continues Lifetime’s commitment to centering Black women’s stories, with Beauvais leading both on-screen and behind the camera.
Garcelle Beauvais is trading reality TV drama for romantic tension in her latest Lifetime project. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum returns as chef Ava Denis in the sequel to 2024’s Tempted by Love.
The Story
Ava has achieved her dream of becoming a headlining chef, but her professional success is complicated by personal choices. When her ex-boyfriend Luke returns after culinary school abroad, Ava must choose between her stable relationship with Ellis and the passion she still feels for Luke.
The trailer reveals Ava’s internal conflict as she describes both men:
- Ellis: “kind and handsome and safe”
- Luke: “33, fine as hell” with “worldly experience”
The Creative Team
The film brings together several key players from the original:
| Role | Actor | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Lead | Garcelle Beauvais | Ava Denis |
| Boyfriend | Boris Kodjoe | Ellis |
| Ex-boyfriend | Vaughn W. Hebron | Luke |
| Best friend | Lela Rochon | Deena |
Roger Bobb directs from a script by Tamara T. Gregory, with executive producers including Terry McMillan, Beauvais, and Gregory.
Behind the Scenes
This marks Beauvais’ first major project since leaving RHOBH in March 2025 after five seasons. Her production deal with Lifetime includes both Tempted 2 Love and another upcoming film, Taken at a Truck Stop: A Black Girl Missing Movie.
Beauvais previously stated about her Lifetime partnership:
> “Telling stories that resonate deeply with audiences and put women-especially Black women-at the center is important to me.”
Key Takeaways
- Tempted 2 Love premieres January 31 at 8/7c on Lifetime
- The sequel was filmed on location in Portugal
- Beauvais executive produces and stars in the project
- The film explores themes of career success versus romantic fulfillment
The movie continues Lifetime’s winter “Love of a Lifetime” programming slate, offering viewers a romantic drama with international flair and complex relationship dynamics.
